trace.py — SkoolKit 10.1 documentation

# trace.py

## SYNOPSIS

`trace.py` [options] FILE [OUTFILE…]

## DESCRIPTION

`trace.py` simulates the execution of machine code in a 48K, 128K or +2 SNA, SZX or Z80 snapshot, or a binary (raw memory) file. If FILE is ‘48’, ‘128’ or ‘+2’, no snapshot is loaded, and the RAM is left blank (all zeroes). If ‘OUTFILE’ is given, an SZX/Z80 snapshot, WAV file or PNG file is written after execution has completed.

## OPTIONS

`--audio`

  Show a list of the delays (in T-states) between changes in the state of the ZX Spectrum speaker made by the code that was executed.

`--ay`

  Capture AY audio (when writing a WAV file).

–ay-mode MODE

  Set the AY stereo mode to ABC, ACB or MONO (the default).

–ay-res T

  Set the AY sampling resolution to this many T-states. The default value of 622 is equivalent to 5700Hz, which is usually good enough for capturing AY speech. A higher value such as 70908 (50Hz) is usually good enough for capturing AY music, and may also require less time to produce the WAV file.

`--beeper`

  Capture beeper audio (when used with `--ay`).

`-c, --cmio`

  Simulate memory and I/O contention delays and the MEMPTR register.

–depth N

  Simplify audio delays to this depth (default: 2). When this option is given, any sequence of delays up to length N that repeats is shown in a simplified form. For example, if N is 3, the run of delay values [1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3] is reduced to [1, 2, 3]*2.

`-D, --decimal`

  Show decimal values in verbose (`-v`, `-vv`) mode.

-I, –ini param=value

  Set the value of a configuration parameter (see `CONFIGURATION`), overriding any value found in `skoolkit.ini`. This option may be used multiple times.

`--map FILE`

  Log addresses of executed instructions to a file.

-m, –max-operations MAX

  Maximum number of instructions to execute. Overrides the STOP address (if given).

-M, –max-tstates MAX

  Maximum number of (simulated) T-states to run for. Overrides the STOP address (if given).

`-n, --no-interrupts`

  Don’t execute interrupt routines.

-o, –org ORG

  Specify the origin address of a binary (raw memory) file. The default origin address is 65536 minus the length of the file. ORG must be a decimal number, or a hexadecimal number prefixed by ‘0x’.

-p, –poke [p:]a[-b[-c]],[^+]v

  POKE N,v in RAM bank p for N in {a, a+c, a+2c…, b} before execution begins. Prefix ‘v’ with ‘^’ to perform an XOR operation, or ‘+’ to perform an ADD operation. This option may be used multiple times. ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’ and ‘v’ must each be a decimal number, or a hexadecimal number prefixed by ‘0x’.

`--python`

  Use the pure Python Z80 simulator even if the C version is available.

-r, –reg name=value

  Set the value of a register before execution begins. Do `--reg help` for more information, or see the section on `REGISTERS` below. This option may be used multiple times.

–rom FILE

  Patch in a ROM at address 0 from this file.

`--show-config`

  Show configuration parameter values.

-s, –start ADDR

  Start execution at this address. ADDR must be a decimal number, or a hexadecimal number prefixed by ‘0x’. If this option is omitted, execution starts either at the address given by the value of the program counter (for a SNA, SZX or Z80 snapshot), or at the origin address of the raw memory file.

-S, –stop ADDR

  Stop execution at this address. ADDR must be a decimal number, or a hexadecimal number prefixed by ‘0x’.

`--screen`

  Display screen contents and respond to keypresses while running (requires pygame). The left shift key is mapped to CAPS SHIFT on the Spectrum keyboard, and the left Ctrl key is mapped to SYMBOL SHIFT.

–state name=value

  Set a hardware state attribute before execution begins. Do `--state help` for more information, or see the section on `HARDWARE STATE` below. This option may be used multiple times.

`--stats`

  Show statistics after execution.

`-v, --verbose`

  Show executed instructions. Repeat this option (`-vv`) to show register values too.

`-V, --version`

  Show SkoolKit version number and exit.

–volume VOL

  Set audio volume percentage (default: 100).

## REGISTERS

The `--reg` option sets the value of a register before execution begins.

`--reg name=value`

For example:

`--reg hl=32768`
`--reg b=0x1f`

To set the value of an alternate (shadow) register, use the ‘^’ prefix:

`--reg ^hl=10072`

Recognised register names are:

`^a`, `^b`, `^bc`, `^c`, `^d`, `^de`, `^e`, `^f`, `^h`, `^hl`, `^l`,
`a`, `b`, `bc`, `c`, `d`, `de`, `e`, `f`, `h`, `hl`, `l`,
`i`, `ix`, `iy`, `memptr`, `pc`, `r`, `sp`

## HARDWARE STATE

The `--state` option sets a hardware state attribute before execution begins.

`--state name=value`

Recognised attribute names and their default values are:

`7ffd` - last OUT to port 0x7ffd (128K only)
`ay[N]` - contents of AY register N (N=0-15; 128K only)
`border` - border colour
`fe` - last OUT to port 0xfe (SZX only)
`fffd` - last OUT to port 0xfffd (128K only)
`iff` - interrupt flip-flop: 0=disabled, 1=enabled
`im` - interrupt mode
`tstates` - T-states elapsed since start of frame

## CONFIGURATION

`trace.py` will read configuration from a file named `skoolkit.ini` in the current working directory or in `~/.skoolkit`, if present. The recognised configuration parameters are:

> PNGScale:

>   The PNG image scale factor (default: `2`).

> Screen:

>   Display screen contents while running (`1`), or don’t (`0`, the default).

> ScreenFps:

>   Screen refresh rate in frames per second (default:`50`). If set to 0, `trace.py` runs at maximum speed.

> ScreenScale:

>   Screen scale factor (default: `2`).

> TraceHeader:

>   The header to print when `-v` is used (default: None).

> TraceHeader2:

>   The header to print when `-vv` is used (default: None).

> TraceLine:

>   The format of each instruction line when `-v` is used (default: `${pc:04X} {i}`).

> TraceLine2:

>   The format of each instruction line when `-vv` is used. Use `--show-config` to see the default value.

> TraceLineDecimal:

>   The format of each instruction line when `-Dv` is used (default: `{pc:05} {i}`).

> TraceLineDecimal2:

>   The format of each instruction line when `-Dvv` is used. Use `--show-config` to see the default value.

> TraceOperand:

>   The prefix, byte format, and word format for the numeric operands of instructions, separated by commas (default: `$,02X,04X`); the byte and word formats are standard Python format specifiers for numeric values, and default to empty strings if not supplied.

> TraceOperandDecimal:

>   As `TraceOperand` when `-D` is used (default: `,,`).

The `TraceLine*` parameters are standard Python format strings that recognise the following replacement fields:

`i` - the current instruction
`m[address]` - the contents of a memory address
`pc` - the address of the current instruction (program counter)
`r[X]` - the ‘X’ register (see below)
`t` - the current timestamp (in T-states)

When using the `m` (memory) replacement field, `address` must be either a decimal number, or a hexadecimal number prefixed by ‘$’ or ‘0x’.

The register name `X` in `r[X]` must be one of the following:

    a b c d e f h l bc de hl
    ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^h ^l ^bc ^de ^hl
    ix iy ixh iyh ixl iyl
    i r sp memptr

The names that begin with `^` denote the shadow registers.

Wherever `\n` appears in a `TraceLine*` parameter value, it is replaced by a newline character.

Configuration parameters must appear in a `[trace]` section. For example, to make `trace.py` write a timestamp for each instruction when `-v` is used, add the following section to `skoolkit.ini`:

    [trace]
    TraceLine={t:>10} ${pc:04X} {i}

Configuration parameters may also be set on the command line by using the `--ini` option. Parameter values set this way will override any found in `skoolkit.ini`.

## EXAMPLES

1. Execute and show instructions in the routine at 32768-32798 in `game.z80`:

`trace.py -v -s 32768 -S 32798 game.z80`

2. Show delays between changes in the state of the ZX Spectrum speaker produced by the sound effect routine at 49152-49193 in `game.z80`:

`trace.py --audio -s 49152 -S 49193 game.z80`