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KIM-1 Software

On this page my collection of KIM-1 software in binary format , manuals and articles, from my tapes and scanned paper archives and user contributions.
Most require an expanded KIM-1 with RAM memory above $2000, 16K recommended. Of course the Micro-KIM and the Corsham KIM Clone and the PAL-1 with memory expansion have enough horsepower to run this.
See the page for useful programs to convert binaries to papertape etc.
Not all have been tested, some use non-standard TTY I/O routines, so study, test, experiment and have fun!


MOS Technology 6502 BASIC for the KIM-1 by Microsoft
Officially named MOS TECH 6502 BASIC V1.1, 1977. KB-9 and KB-6 are the usual names used for the Microsoft BASIC for the KIM-1. One of the 6502 family of early interpreters by the then called Micro-soft company. KB stands for KIM Basic, the 6 and 9 for the precision of digits.
See here for the page about the KIM-1 binary versions , articles, listing, sources and build-and-enhance- it-yourself version.



Forth

The FORTH language 6502 FIG-FORTH

Binary Forth original, start at 2000
FORTH assembler sources, 6502, 65C02
FORTH assembler sources, 6502, 65C02 in ASSM/TED format, Elektor Junior binaries
Fig-FORTH 6502 manual
Fig-FORTH Manuals May 1979


KGN COMAL

COMAL is an interpreted structured language. A version for the KIM-1, Junior and DOS65 is available, distributed by the KIM Gebruikers Club Nederland as KGN COMAL.
See the KGN COMAL page for binaries and documentation.


MICRO-ADE assembler/editor

Updated October 2022

MICRO-ADE was the working horse for many KIM-1 users, the small and powerful assembler/editor/disassembler written by Peter Jennings, Microware.
Manual and program are placed here with permission by Peter Jennings to the KIM Club (thank you Peter for this and for a great program!)
A letter sent by Anton Muller, KIM User Club the Netherlands, to Peter Jennings, thanks Peter for the scan!

In August 2021 I (Hans Otten) typed in the source of MICRO-Ade from the listing in the manual, the output is binary compatible with the binaries I saved from tape and are tested on the KIM-1.
The result is a source identical (in standard MOS Technology assembler format) to the listing and binary identical to the page image. I also made new high quality scan of the manual and the listing.
Micro Ade program source and binary
Scanned manual
Scanned listing

Read in the KIM KENNER archive the source of the enhancements (text by S.T. Woldringh o.a.)
The KIM club enhanced Micro Ade to version 8. Download here the binary with a 2 page command summary.
MICRO-ADE V8


Q-Chess for the KIM-1

Q-Chess 1.0 is a chess program for the KIM-1, from around 1980. The programs requires a memory expansion of 8K at $2000.
The chess board is displayed at a TVT-6 (Don Lancaster) video display alongside the KIM LED Display and Keypad.
In 1981 Fer Weber, a member of the Dutch KIM User Club published an adaptation to use the program with a (video)terminal attached to the KIM TTY interface in the Dutch magazine the KIM Kenner Issue 17.
Binaries on tape and the documentation of Q-Chess were acquired in 1981 from Fer.
In March 2025 Hans Otten translated the source of the adaptations from Dutch to English in TASM format and checked the binary output to the binaries saved from tape.
This makes Q-Chess playable again!

Q-Chess User’s Guide
Q-Chess binaries
Adaptations by Fer Weber on Q-Chess for TTY
Source of adaptations by Fer Weber to Q-Chess


Usurpator Chess for the 6502

AIM 65 and KIM-1 versions, with binaries and sources in modern 6502 assembler.

Usurpator Chess for the 6800 and 6502, a book by H.G. Muller
The book, with source listings for 6800 and 6502
Programs with sources ready to run for AIM 65 and KIM-1



TKChess Computerschaak Theo Kortekaas for the KIM-1

Theo Kortekaas, a member of the Dutch KIM User Club, published in the club magazine the KIM Kenner, Issue 11 and 20, a chess program for the standard unenhanced KIM-1.
The program files are from audio cassette digitized wave files from 1982. for keypad and LED display.

TK Chess Program for the standard KIM
TKChess binaries and wave audio files
TKChess scanned listing
The 1K program with enhancements not in the binaries



Microchess for the KIM-1

Updated November 2021

MICROCHESS for the KIM-1. Another Peter Jennings Microware product. Runs on a standard KIM-1. Control via LED displays and hex keypad. Quite a commercial success, many sold!

Wave files of tape and binaries, dump of my cassette files
Assembler source and binaries, typed in by me in 2021, binary identical to tape
Original manual (from the reseller The Computerist) scanned by me
Original manual by Peter Jennings
Manual in HTML format
Article on upgrading/extending Microchess, Compute II Issue 1, pdf format
Article on upgrading/extending MICROCHESS, Compute II Issue 1, html format
Upgrade/extending assembler source and binaries, typed in by me in 2021
More chess openings, Fer Weber 1978

Microchess has been adapted for the Elektor Junior by Sjaak de Wit, sjelabs.nl.
Description of the adaptation
Source and binary of Microchess for the Elektor Junior


6502 Macro Assembler and Text Editor CW Moser

CW Moser ASSM/TED Assembler and Text Editor binaries: original, KIM-1, Elektor Junior
Manual scanned in PDF format

Sources of CW Moser for 65C02 and Junior binaries
Color version of later manual
Dissecting C. W. Moser’s ASSM_TED, Compute! Issue 11
Commodore PET version of the manual
Graphics Drawing Compiler for PET and SYM manual
Fast cassette interface for ASSM/TED by CW Moser
Universal 6502 Memory Test PET, Apple, Sym and Others, Compute! Issue 1


KIM Tape Copy v1.1

kim tape copy v11 KIM Tape Copy v1.1, copy all files on a KIM cassette. Uses two recorders attached as shown in the Micro Ade manual.
Source in Micro Ade format
Listing of Tape Copy


H14 printer and parallel keyboard routine


The Heathkit H14 printer is a simple matrix printer with a serial interface. This routine allows to use this printer via two pins at the free 6530 PIA port, see circuit diagram. Resistors are 2k2 ohm.
H14 printer and parallel keyboard input assembler source
Listing and circuit diagram


Printing disassembler

In 1982 I wrote/composed a program to have disassembled code on paper, with page numbers. The whole story, with the old binary and source, and a recent update can be found on this page.


Reactie

Time your reaction. Standard KIM-1 LED display and keypad. Source included.


First Book of KIM sources

First Book of KIM, 1977, 1978
Published by Hayden Book Company. Later version, corrected edition
First Book of KIM, 1977
Published in Europe by Human Electron GMBH. Earlier version, corrections required
The First Book of KIM-1, part in text format
The First Book of KIM-1 in HTML format
Sources of The First Book of KIM-1 in source and papertape format,
Jeff Tranter
Software from First Book of KIM in binary, audio (Wave) and papertape format, by Dave Willams.


KIM Venture

A (tiny) Colossal Cave adventure for the KIM-1 by Bob Leedom


HEXPAWN

HEXPAWN, a game for the KIM-1 by Robert Leedom


Baseball

Baseball, a game for the KIM-1 by Robert Leedom


Telefonbuch Hobbycomputer #1 Herwig Feichtinger

Telefonbuch Hobbycomputer #1 Herwig Feichtinger


Pascal-M

Pascal-M: A full (1978) Pascal P2 descendent compiler system for the KIM-1.
See the School of Wirth pages for more information, including sources and binaries


Pocket calculator for the KIM-1

Siep de Vries Westvries Computing The Netherlands 1977
Simple calculator (integer 6 digits positive) + – / *
I/O via TTY or keypad/LED display, the same method as used by the KIM-1 monitor.
Two versions (scans included):
a special publication from the first days of the KIM Club in a traditional 6502 assembler and a later version for the Micro ADE assembler editor.
Sources included of both versions (TASM 32),with resulting listing and papertape and Intel hex files.
As close to paper original, changes due to assembler quirks.
Download here Sources, papertape, listings, original scans

KIM-1 manuals and MOS Technology documents

On this page manuals, most English, some German and other MOS Technology documents

PDFs from all over the internet, archive.org,.thanks for that!
From https://www.retro-commodore.eu/2021/02/14/kim-1-manuals/ come the high quality scans!
Most are own scans and many hours of correcting scans to higher and cleaner quality.



KIM-1 User Manual

Four version are known to exist, a First Edition January 1976, a Second Edition March 1976 Revision 6500-15A, a Second Edition 6500-15B August 1976, and a Rockwell version Rev 1 1977.
There may have been a 6500-15C on which the Rockwell version is based. From 15A to 15B the difference is in a changed description of the 6530 timer. In the Rockwell version the keypad change of SST switch to the left is documented.
A German version is also known.

Proofreading version of User Manual from Terry Holdt
KIM-1 User Manual First Edition, January 1976
No Version number, could be 6500-15.
KIM User Manual Errata Letters for First Edition
KIM-1 User Manual 15A March 1976
KIM-1 User Manual 15B August 1976

User manual in HTML format
User manual in text format
Appendix with complete ROM listing in PDF format

KIM-1 User Manual Rockwell Rev 1, 1977
Revision of Rockwell KIM-1 User Manual
MOS KIM-1 Handbuch, German version of KIM-1 User manual

MCS6500 Family Hardware Manual

Hardware Manual August 1975 First Edition Publications Number 6500-10
6500-10 MCS6500 Hardware Manual August 1975 First Edition
Errate letter for Hardware Manual 6500–10
Hardware Manual January 1976 Second Edition Publications Number 6500-10A
6500-10A MCS6500 Hardware Manual January 1976 Second edition
6500-10A MCS6500 Hardware Manual Second Edition January 1976
high quality, printed in Germany
MCS6500 Hardware manual 6500-10A in HTML format
MCS6500 Hardware Manual 6500-10A in ASCII format
MOS 6500 Hardware Handbuch
German version of Hardware manual
Rockwell 6500 Hardware Manual
MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Hardware Manual 50A Reproduced
High-res quality typeset manual by Pickledlight. Local copy. Check the original for updates.
MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Hardware Manual Reproduced
MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Hardware Manual Reproduced Cover
MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Hardware Manual Reproduced with Cover

MCS6500 Family Programming manual

6500-50A MCS6500 Programming Manual January 1976
with reference card


6500-50A MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Programming Manual
Reproduced

High-res quality typeset manual by Pickledlight. Local copy. Check the original for updates.
Hardcover of MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Programming Manual
MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Programming Manual reproduced with cover
Programming Manual in HTML format
Programming manual appendix in HTML format
Rockwell 6500 Programming Manual
6500-50 MCS6500 Programming Manual Synertek
6500-50 MCS6500 Programming Manual Synertek in HTML format
MOS Microcomputers Programmier Handbuch
German version of Programming manual

KIM Hints

A small booklet from MOS Technology comes with every KIM-1 with hints how to use the KIM-1. Like audio cassette, Teletype, paper tape, power supply and the Interval Timer in the 6530.

KIM Hints, grey cover
KIM-1 Hints, white cover
KIM hints in text format
KIM-1
KIM-1 Hints with additions and corrections

KIM Application Note #2 Interval timer Operation

KIM Application Note #2 Interval timer Operation

KIM-2 – KIM-5 manuals

Hardware extensions, see also the KIM System Products pages.

< User’s Manual Motherboard KIM-4 in PDF
User’s Manual Motherboard KIM-4
User’s Manual Motherboard KIM-4 in BW PDF
User’s Manual Motherboard KIM-4 in HTML
< MOS KIM-2-3-4 User Manual Expansion Modules
KIM System products folder KIM-3B KIM-4 IM-5 KIM-6 incl pricelist
MOS KIM Assembler Manual Preliminary (KIM-5)
MOS KIM Text Editor User Manual (KIM-5)

Cross assembler Manual, GE timeshare

Scan-160408-0001 Cross assembler Manual, GE timeshare
MCS6500 Microprocessor Software Support
Guide for using the MOS Technology Support Software on United Computing Systems timesharing service
Describes the MCS6500 Cross Assembler, Simulator and DMP to ROM programs.

MOS KIMath Subroutines Programming Manual

MOS KIMath Subroutines Programming Manual

MOS Technology Cross assembler


Circuit diagram poster

KIM-1 circuit diagram
Rockwell branded circuit diagram
KIM-1 poster in high resolution, large picture!
KIM-1 poster in high resolution,
cleaned up by Joshy of Forum64 and me (August 2022)
KIM-1 poster in high resolution, cleaned up and with wide borders
KIM-1 poster in high resolution, scan by Dave McMurtrie
Redrawn KIM-1 circuit diagram

First Book of KIM

Written by Jim Butterfield, Stan Ockers and Eric Rehnke (and many other authors!), first published 1977.
Invaluable source of information on programming the standard KIM-1. Background, games, utilities such as Hypertape.
Many reprints, many publishers.
The two versions downloadable here are rescanned and of high quality. The layout is a bit different, the contents are mostly identical. The corrections listed below are applicable to the Human Electron version, the Hayden version already has those corrections.
The previous version and only until now, still all on the internet is low quality, full of artefacts and missing the last page.

First Book of KIM, 1977, 1978
Published by Hayden Book Company. Later version, corrected edition
First Book of KIM, 1977
Published in Europe by Human Electron GMBH. Earlier version, corrections required
The Appendix SYM/KIM tot the First Book of KIM
1979, Robert A Peck, Hayden Book Company
Last page of Hayden version, a quick reference of the KIM-1
The First Book of KIM-1, part in text format
The First Book of KIM-1 in HTML format
Sources of The First Book of KIM-1 in source and papertape format, Jeff Tranter
Software from First Book of KIM in binary, audio (Wave) and papertape format, by Dave Willams.

THE FIRST BOOK OF KIM – corrections
– Authorships: SORT p. 136: by Jim Pollock
– FARMER BROWN, HYPERTAPE, SUPERDUDE: by Jim Butterfield
– Titles: MUTI-MAZE, p 92, should be MULTI-MAZE
– Programs:
– BANDIT: change 0252 and 029C from 08 to 0B
– CODE TEST, p.58: change 02CE thru 02DA to:
D1 65 D4 C5 D5 85 D0 A2 04 B5 D0 95 D1
– MUSIC BOX, p.90: add 027D 84 E7 – STY LIMIT+1
– MINI DIS, p. 125: add 0364 68 – PLA
– LUNAR LANDER, p.84: Press A for altitude display (is not in the Hayden version!)
– WUMPUS, p.107:. If WUMPUS moves into a room. with a pit or superbats, he’ll’ be hidden – you won’t be told WUMPUS CLOSE. Either guess or pitch a can to make him move.
– Asteroid line 0269 should be labeled NOBT
– Blackjack 0292 should be labeled HIT
– PING PONG hex dump 0325 should be “08” not “C0”
– WUMPUS line 06C delete duplicate label “ROOM”


Newsletters and errata

MOS Technology newsletters
MOS Technology April 1976 customer update
Customer Errata Letters
Customer Errata Letter 1
Customer Errata Letter 2
Customer Errata Letter 3

Quick references

KIM-1 Quick Reference by Jeff Trenter
KIM-1 user guide and notes
from the book “Microcomputer Principles
featuring the 6502/KIM

Other MOS Technology documents

MOS Technology Floating point BCD routines
MOS Technology January 1976, Rev 0.
Numbers of six digits BCD Mantissa,
a two digit BCD Exponent and the signs for the mantissa
MCS6532 Design Specification
Published before the first 6532 datasheet
MCS6500 Microprocessor Software Support
Guide for using the MOS Technology Support Software on United Computing Systems timesharing service
Describes the MCS6500 Cross Assembler, Simulator and DMP to ROM programs.
MCS6500 datasheet May 1976
MDT 650 product description
Simplifying Conversion from 6800 to 6502
TIM Software development Aid Product description
KIM 2-3-4-5 product descriptions

Warranty card that came with the KIM-1

Byte Magazine 1978 09 Plugging the KIM-2 Gap

Byte Magazine 1978 09 Plugging the KIM-2 Gap

Rockwell AIM 65 and RM65

AIM 65 was Rockwell’s SBC, in the tradition of KIM-1 and VIM/SYM-1, sharing the Application and Expansion connector designs, so add-ons could be used on all three. The Keypad/LED was replaced with a full keyboard and a 20 character display, making it more like a desktop computer than a SBC.
The AIM 65 (Advanced Interactive Monitor 65) has a 6502 CPU at 1 MHz and 1-4K RAM

The Rockwell AIM 65 computer is a development computer, introduced in 1978, based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor. Available software included a line-oriented machine code monitor, BASIC interpreter, assembler, Pascal, PL/65, and FORTH development system.
Later developments were the AIM 65/40 (40 character display, memory banks) and the RM 65 card based development system.
After 1984 Rockwell discontinued the AIM 65 and RM 65 product lines.

De PC 100 getest, an article by me, Hans Otten, August 1980,
in Radio Bulletin about the Siemens PC100, an AIM 65 with a case,
German documentation and sold by Siemens, Brutech in the Netherlands.

SYM-1

The SYM-1 SBC, designed by Ray Holt and Manny Lomas, after Microcomputer Associates when they became Synertek Systems.

Originally called VIM-1, this was a 6502 SBC meant to be a better KIM-1. The design shared the same application connector, so it was possible to produce expansions (the ASK family as Robert Tripp of The Computerist called it).
More I/O (6522’s and the 6532 for the same 6 7 segment LEDs and larger keypad), more RAM (4K), more empty ROM slots, a better monitor (vectored, so easy to interface to new hardware), optional Basic or Resident Assembler Editor.

On these pages a collection of available SYM-1 hardware and software.

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Synertek SYM-1 KTM

Synertek, Inc. was an American semiconductor manufacturer founded in 1973. The initial founding group consisted of Bob Schreiner (from Fairchild), Dan Floyd, Zvi Grinfas, Jack Balletto, and Gunnar Wetlesen. The manufacturing technology was MOS/LSI.
Initial products included custom designed devices, as well as a line of standard products (static RAMs, ROMs, dynamic and static shift registers) and then, sometime before 1979, second sourced versions of MOS Technology’s successful 6502 8-bit microprocessor, and the (less successful) Philips/Signetics 2650 processor and Zilog Z8 microcomputer.
Major customers included Atari (for its video game product line their biggest customer at a certain point of time) and Apple Computer (for its Apple II computer).
In the days leading up to the 1977 West Coast Computer Faire, Steve Wozniak chose to use a Synertek ROM chip for the Apple II, which was revealed at the event, after a chip from American Megatrends didn’t arrive on time.

Here some pages with information on Synertek, Micro Associates and my SYM-1 systems.

The Jolt from Micro Associates and initialy not a Synertek product, has its own page here.


Synertek Databook 1983 Chapter 5 Systems

My VIM-1:

My current SYM-1:



Synertek acquired Microcomputer Associates, Incorporated, consisting of engineers Manny Lemas and Ray Holt, after which it was renamed Synertek Systems, Inc. and established as a subsidiary. In 1978, Synertek Systems released a 6502-based single board computer/evaluation kit called the SYM-1, a derivative of MOS Technology/Commodore Semiconductor Group’s KIM-1.
Synertek’s semiconductor fabrication plant in Santa Clara, California operated from 1974 to 1985. Sometime after 1979, Synertek was acquired by Honeywell and set up as a subsidiary. Later, around 1983, construction began for an additional manufacturing facility in Santa Cruz, California. There was Superfund attention to pollution at the Synertek factory site. When market conditions deteriorated, primarily because of business downturns at Atari, work was stopped at the Santa Cruz facility and it was later sold. Honeywell shut down operations at Synertek in 1985 and assets were sold off (from Wikipedia).

Part of Chapter 5, systems, of the Synertek Databook 1983, note the Jolt was still available.



The end of Synertek Systems in 1985:


Photos by Ray Holt

 

 

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Jolt and Super Jolt

On these pages some information on the Jolt and Super Jolt and Microcomputer Associates.
Microcomputer Associates company played an important role in the 6502 SBCs, TIM, KIM-1 and SYM-1 all contain results of their work.
The company continued as Synertek Systems with the Superjolt, SYM-1 and more.

One of the first 6502 systems is the Jolt SBC. Built around the 6502 and the TIM 6530-004 RRIOT. The TIM software is developed by Micro Associates for MOS Technology.
The Jolt was superceded by the Superjolt, Micro Associates became Synertek Systems.

Read about the systems and Micro Associates:

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LAB-VOLT 6502

LAB-VOLT 6502 Microprocessor trainer.

A rather unknown SBC aimed at education in the LAB-VOLT family.

The description of the trainer is in the book
Microprocessor Concepts and Applications
Publisher: Lab-Volt
Download here

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KIM-1 Clone

A KIM-1 clone build by Bob Applegate of Corsham technologies.

Somewhat inspired by the microKIM by Vince Briel, who was inpired by Ruud Baltissen! The idea is replace the 6530’s with 6532 and by carefull memory decoding have the I/O, timer and RAM of the 6532s appear at the same locations as the 6530-002 and -003. ROM is added with an EPROM.

Not an exact copy, the ROM has been changed/enhanced with a KIM Monitor by Bob, though the original KIM-1 ROM should work also.

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Digital group 6501 board

Very few systems were build with a 6501.

The Digital Group did, see here!

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The Digital Group 6501 CPU board

The short-lived 6501 by MOS Technology appeared as far as I know only in a board made by The Digital Group.

Around 1975 The Digital Group created their new, reasonably priced, multiple-board computer system with these advanced features:
– Intel 8080, Motorola 6800, or MOS 6500 CPU card
– video display/cassette interface card
– 8-bit parallel input/output ports
– 2KB dynamic memory
– The 3-board Intel or Motorola CPU kit cost $425, while the MOS 6500 CPU kit cost $375. Later, the Zilog Z-80 CPU was added to the selection for $475.

The Digital Group didn’t just copy the MITS Altair design as others did, they improved upon it, with features not available in other systems. For one, the DG system loads the Operating System from the cassette drive automatically with little user interaction. Additionally, the DG system was available with four different CPU cards – the rest of the system remains fully compatible, no matter what CPU card was installed. Technically, the DG system has three different buses for CPU, memory, and I/O. Because of this, the card slots are different sizes and dedicated to each card type:

      

 650X CPU card construction
 650X Operating System
Building a Digital Group System
MICROTREK 1977 Review of a Digital Group computer