---
name: "z88dk"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "z88dk-data"
version: "1.8.ds1-10"
release: "Debian 7 (Wheezy)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/z88dk"
---

# z88dk(1)

The z88 Development Kit.

## NAME

**z88dk** - The z88 Development Kit.

## DESCRIPTION

**The z88 Development Kit (hereafter known as z88dk) is an advanced set** **of tools allowing the production of complex programs for z80 based** **computers in either C or assembly language.** **The name z88dk originates from the time when the project was founded and targetted only the Cambridge z88 portable.**

**The compiler featured in z88dk is much enhanced Small C compiler, the compiler accepts many features** **of ANSI C and is only deficient in a few areas where implementation on a z80 processor might prove** **inefficient. The compiler performs simple optimizations, but the bulk of the optimization is done by** **a set of peep-hole rules, which will typically reduce the size of a large project by up to a third.**

**The libraries supplied with z88dk are designed to be as generic as possible, indeed it is possible** **to port to a new machine simply by supplying two library routines and some startup code. It is hoped** **that one day z88dk will support as many z80 based machines as there is information available and sufficient interest in.**

**z88dk contains usable tools:**

- •

  **zcc - the frontend of z88dk is called zcc, it is this that you should call if you want to do any compilations.**

- •

  **z80asm - Z80 assembler compiler**

- •

  **copt - Z80 asm optimizer code**

- •

  **appmake - produce files which are suitable for use in emulators or on the real hardware**

- •

  **sccz80 - Small-C/Plus compiler**

## SEE ALSO

**[z88dk(1)](/z88dk/1.md), [z88dk-zcc(1)](/z88dk-zcc/1.md), [z88dk-z80asm(1)](/z88dk-z80asm/1.md), [z88dk-appmake(1)](/z88dk-appmake/1.md), [z88dk-copt(1)](/z88dk-copt/1.md).**

## AUTHOR

**z88dk was written by Dominic Morris \<dom@z88dk.org\>, and others.** **This manual page was written by Krystian Wlosek \<tygrys@waw.pdi.net\> using exists documentation, for the Debian GNU/Linux system.**