NI-Script Tutorial

The Basics

zp (Zero Page) is the main data register — everything passes through it.
ar1 and ar2 are used for math and comparisons.
ram and ra work together for memory storage.
zpe is an extra register often used for loops or temporary storage.

Data Movement Commands

Command	Meaning	Explanation
load <val>	Load constant into zp	Puts a value from data ROM into zp.
set ar1	Move zp to ar1	Copies zp into ar1.
set ar2	Move zp to ar2	Copies zp into ar2.
set ra	Set the current RAM address to zp	Selects memory cell for RAM operations.
set ram	Store zp into current RAM address	Saves zp into RAM at ra.
set zpe	Set zpe register to zp	Copies zp into zpe (loop counter, temp storage).
get ram	Load zp from current RAM	Reads RAM at ra into zp.
get zpe	Load zp from zpe	Copies zpe into zp.
get input	Read user input into zp	Main input channel.
get count	Get the program counter	Reads the current instruction pointer into zp.

Arithmetic Commands

Command	Meaning	Explanation
add	ar1 + ar2 → zp	Adds ar1 and ar2, stores in zp.
sub	ar1 - ar2 → zp	Subtracts ar2 from ar1, result goes into zp.

Bitwise Logic Commands

Command	Meaning	Explanation
and	Bitwise AND	Logical AND of ar1 and ar2 → zp.
or	Bitwise OR	Logical OR of ar1 and ar2 → zp.
xor	Bitwise XOR	Logical XOR of ar1 and ar2 → zp.

Comparison and Control Flow

Command	Meaning	Explanation
comp	Jump if ar1 == ar2	Compares ar1 and ar2; jumps to zp if equal.
ar2_gt_ar1	Jump if ar2 > ar1	Jump to zp if ar2 > ar1.
ar1_gt_ar2	Jump if ar1 > ar2	Jump to zp if ar1 > ar2.

Jump Commands

Command	Meaning	Explanation
jump <addr>	Jump to address	Moves execution to specified address; counts as 2 instructions.
jumpzp	Jump to zp	Jump to address stored in zp (dynamic jump).

Output Commands

Command	Meaning	Explanation
output	Print zp	Outputs zp to main output.
output2	Print zp to secondary output	Outputs zp to a second channel.
output3	Print zp to third output	Outputs zp to a third channel.
output4	Print zp to fourth output	Outputs zp to a fourth channel.

Extra Instruction Details

SR (Sector Register): selects active Program or Data ROM sector. Each sector holds 255 instructions. When a sector ends, the CPU automatically jumps to the next sector. Use set sr to select a sector and get sr to read it.

Program Counter: get count reads the current instruction pointer into zp.

Extra Inputs: get input2, get input3, get input4 read additional inputs independently into zp.

Extra Outputs: output2, output3, output4 write zp values to multiple output channels.

Jump Instructions: jump <addr> counts as 2 instructions. jumpzp jumps to the address stored in zp.

Summary Table of Commands

Command	Description	External Data Needed?
load <val>	Load constant into zp	Yes (from data ROM)
set ar1	Move zp to ar1	No
set ar2	Move zp to ar2	No
set ra	Set RAM address	No
set ram	Set current RAM to zp	No
set zpe	Set zpe to zp	No
get ram	Set zp to RAM	No
get zpe	Set zp to zpe	No
get input	Set zp to user input	No
get input2	Set zp to user input 2	No
get input3	Set zp to user input 3	No
get input4	Set zp to user input 4	No
get count	Get the current address (program counter)	No
get sr	Get active ROM sector	No
set sr	Set active ROM sector	No
add	Add ar1 + ar2 → zp	No
sub	Subtract ar1 - ar2 → zp	No
and	Bitwise AND	No
or	Bitwise OR	No
xor	Bitwise XOR	No
comp	Jump if ar1 == ar2	No
ar2_gt_ar1	Compare ar2 > ar1	No
ar1_gt_ar2	Compare ar1 > ar2	No
output	Output zp	No
output2	Output2 zp	No
output3	Output3 zp	No
output4	Output4 zp	No
jump <addr>	Jump to address	Yes (address), counts as 2 instructions
jumpzp	Jump to value stored in zp	No

Simple NI-Script Tutorial

This example demonstrates a basic program flow:

; Step 1: Select data ROM sector
load 0
set sr

; Step 2: Load values into registers
load 10
set ar1
load 5
set ar2

; Step 3: Perform arithmetic
add

; Step 4: Output the result
output

Explanation:

load <val>: Reads value from data ROM into zp.
set ar1, set ar2: Store values in registers for arithmetic.
add: Adds ar1 + ar2, result goes into zp.
output: Prints the result stored in zp.