Setup and introduction

Turbo Rascal Syntax error, “;” expected but “BEGIN” runs as a stand-alone application on windows, linux and OS X.

Click here for a detailed list on how to set up each of the supported systems in TRSE (recommended emulators, assemblers etc).

You need to go through four hard-core tasks before being able to compile programs for TRSE :

  1. Procure your favorite emulator, such as vice(C64/C128/PET/PLUS4/VIC20), mednafen(NES,Game boy),  fs-uae (Amiga)  Hatari (Atari ST). See this link for an extended introduction to recommended emulators.
  2. Open the Settings page of TRSE and select the location of the emulators  (like, x64.exe for VICE)
  3. For M6809/M68k/Gameboy/X86 systems, set the path of the assembler (etc vasm for the m68k, nasm for DOS, rgbasm for gameboy). TRSE contains a built-in assembler for the 6502 and Z80.
  4. Start with the tutorial projects : First select a system, then double click on a a project to load.
  5. If you’re new to TRSE, be sure to start with the “language introduction” section in the “C64/Main tutorials” project!

How to compile

The TRSE editor will display all valid files in the current project directory, which includes the following file types

  • .RAS :  Turbo Rascal source files
  • .ASM : Compiled assembler files
  • .TRU : Turbo Rascal Unit file. TRSE (user) library source files.
  • .PAW : TRSE Packing & disk file
  • .FLF : TRSE image format (sprites, charsets, images, amiga, C64, VIC-20)
  • .FJO : Ray tracer source files.
  • .TRT: Turbo Rascal Tracker (music) file

To open a file, double click it.

To compile a RAS file, press ctrl+B to build and ctrl+R to run (which will also build first). The compile step first produces Dasm .ASM files, before compiling the PRG to a PRG file.

ctrl-U generates a complete memory map of the current project. Here’s an example from the tutorial game Rogue Burger One:

TRSE Syntax

You can find a summary of the syntax in TRSE here.