GitHub - banyek/ZXCode: 1982 BASIC. 2026 developer experience

1982 BASIC. 2026 developer experience.

Write authentic Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K BASIC in VS Code, check it as you type, and build .tap files for a Spectrum or emulator.

Download the latest release · User guides · Report an issue

Install

Requires VS Code 1.140.0 or newer. Node.js and npm are not needed to use the released extension.

Download the .vsix file from the latest GitHub Release.
In VS Code, open the Command Palette and choose Extensions: Install from VSIX....
Select the downloaded file and reload VS Code if prompted.

Or install the downloaded package from a terminal:

code --install-extension zxcode-vscode-0.1.0.vsix

Use the filename of the version you downloaded. Releases also include a .vsix.json payload report with its SHA-256 checksum. Distribution is through GitHub Releases; ZXCode is not currently published to VS Code Marketplace.

Write your first program

Create hello.zxbas and enter:

10 PRINT "HELLO SPECTRUM"
20 STOP

The language mode should say ZX Spectrum BASIC. .zxbas files select it automatically; for a generic .bas file, choose the language mode explicitly.

Run ZXCode: Check BASIC from the Command Palette and inspect Problems.
Run ZXCode: Build TAP to create hello.tap beside your saved source.
Load the tape in a Spectrum 48K emulator with LOAD "", then enter RUN.

Build and check use your current editor text, including unsaved edits. For a longer walkthrough with completion and navigation, see your first Spectrum BASIC program.

What you can do

Edit with syntax highlighting, live diagnostics, completion and Sinclair help.
Navigate BASIC lines, variables and functions with definitions, references and Outline.
Build TAPs, format source and preview safe line renumbering.
Import supported BASIC TAPs with byte-preservation checks.
Run programs directly with a separately installed Fuse 1.8+ emulator.
Debug with breakpoints, Step Into, variables, watches and screen/memory inspection using the optional ZEsarUX setup.

Programs use real BASIC line numbers and original 48K ROM BASIC. GOTO and GOSUB are accepted as source aliases for canonical GO TO and GO SUB. ZXCode does not add labels, implicit line numbering or a new BASIC dialect. Emulators and ROMs are not bundled; they are unnecessary for editing, checking and building TAPs.

Guides

Task	Guide
Editor commands, settings, CLI and troubleshooting	User handbook
Build and launch with Fuse	Run Spectrum
Import and preserve an existing TAP	TAP import
Configure the optional debugger	Debug-machine setup
Try working BASIC programs	Examples

Use the CLI from source

Requires Node.js 24.x, npm and Git. This public repository can be cloned without GitHub authentication:

git clone https://github.com/banyek/ZXCode.git
cd ZXCode
npm ci
npm run build
npm run zxcode -- check examples/hello.bas
npm run zxcode -- build examples/hello.bas --autostart 10

The build writes examples/hello.tap. See the CLI guide for output paths, cassette names, import and preservation commands.

Contribute

Bug reports and contributions are welcome through GitHub Issues and pull requests. Build/test commands, architecture and compatibility references live in the development guide. Maintainers can follow the release procedure. Browse all documentation for design documents and historical implementation specifications.