TOOLCHAIN

A set of tools to convert from various SPHERE-1 formats to other SPHERE-1 formats.

These comprise:

build	A tool to control a complete build from commencement to completion (including coordinating the other tools listed here).
convertEXE	Converts assembled 6800 code to several Sphere-1 compatible formats.
convertROM	Converts a raw binary SPHERE-1 ROM image to an ORB-compatible format.
bin2sphere	A utility for producing vintage Sphere cassette tape data blocks.

Installation

Prerequisites (for the full tool set)

• Install Python 3.x - versions above 3.9 are currently supported
• Install "click" by typing pip3 install click
• Install bin2sphere
  • Clone Ben Zotto's bin2sphere repository
  • Folow the build instructions in the README
  • Ensure the built executable is located in the same folder/directory as the convertEXE from this repo
• Install srec2bin
  • Source code is included for v1.1.1
  • Ensure the built executable is located in the same folder/directory as the convertEXE from this repo

NOTE:
There is a version of bin2sphere included in this repo is dated October 9th 2023. It is recommended that to ensure the latest software is being used that you follow the installation instructions for bin2sphere above.

There is a version of srec2bin included in this repo(compiled for Apple silicon). The version included here is v1.1.1. It is based on a program located here which is version 1.1. It has been further modified by Andrew Shapton in 2025 to better integrate with a wider toolset. Details of the modifications are included in the code as comments.software, you will need a C compiler. The original source code for v1.1 is also included.

Within the conversion tools, there is a library written by David Beazley http://www.dabeaz.com which converts a binary file to Kansas City Cassette format as used by the Sphere-1. Original script available on his site).This has been updated by Ben Zotto in 2023 and again by Andrew Shapton also in 2023. The Python source code is required.

convertEXE package

• Clone the repository and ensure that the path is on your search path.
• Test the installation by typing convertEXE --version
• If you see the following:

convertEXE (Version 1.0.3): Convert MC6800 assembled code into Sphere-1 loadable package and other formats.

(c) Andrew Shapton 2023, Portions (c) Ben Zotto 2023 all is well.

OR

convertROM --version

If you see the following:

convertROM (Version 1.2): Converts a Sphere ROM binary file into a form suitable for the SPHERE-Firmware emulator

Note that the versions could be slightly different from these shown, if small bugfixes have been introduced.

If not, check that the repository is cloned correctly and that the location is definitely on your search path.

convertEXE

Formats supported

• Virtual Cassette for Ben Zotto's Virtual Sphere-1 emulator
• Javascript for manually embedding into the Virtual Sphere-1 emulator
• Virtual Cassette "V2" format for automatically embedding into the Virtual Sphere-1 emulator (experimental)
• .WAV file for storing as a "true' cassette audio file

How to use

Usage: convertEXE [OPTIONS]

Options:
  -b, --base TEXT      Base address.  [required]
  -c, --cassette TEXT  Cassette output file.
  -I, --in TEXT        Specify an input folder.  [required]
  -i, --input TEXT     Input MC6800 executable file.  [required]
  -j, --js TEXT        Virtual Cassette Javascript (will have a '.js'
                       extension).
  -m, --movebin        Move original binary to output location
  -n, --noheader       Don't produce headers for JS file.
  -O, --out TEXT       Specify an output folder.  [required]
  -p, --prefix TEXT    Cassette prefix.
  -s, --silent         Silent (no output).
  -t, --title TEXT     Cassette title (for Virtual Sphere).
  -v, --vcass TEXT     Produce a virtual cassette in V1 format.
  -v2, --vcass2 TEXT   Produce a virtual cassette in V2 format.
  --version            Show the version and exit.
  --help               Show this message and exit.

  Check out the Github page for more documentation at
  https://github.com/Sphere-Corporation/CONVERT

convertROM

Explanation

Converts a raw, SPHERE-1 ROM Image into a format that can be used with either:

• a Project ORB ROM Emulator
• Ben Zotto's Virtual SPHERE-1

How to use

Usage: convertROM [OPTIONS]

Options:
  -i, --input TEXT    Specify a SPHERE-1 ROM file.  [required]
  -o, --output TEXT   Specify an output file.
  -f, --format TEXT   Specify the output format. (required)
  -e, --ext TEXT      Extension for output file.
  -b, --base TEXT     Base address of ROM.
  -c, --comment TEXT  < 80 characters of comment for the ROM image (in
                      quotes).
  -s, --silent        Silent (no output).
  -l, --license       Show the license (MIT).
  -v, --version       Show the version.
  --help              Show this message and exit.

Defaults:

Argument	Value	Notes
ext	.h	Extension given to the output file if no other extension is given
base	0xFE00	Location of the base address of the ROM Image