From 9ad7e292f8bdb900a6c5f6bd2815831e6658c5a3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Christian Werner <cwer542@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:57:01 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] feat(arnitech): a Blade autoboots the first program on device
 8

With ARNITECH_BLADE, BASIC's cold start calls blade_autoboot before READY.: it
loads "*" from device 8 to BASIC's start, as LOAD"*",8 does, and BASIC then
ends that LOAD as a program's, which RUNs what it loaded. RUN/STOP held on the
Terminal Card, no Floppy, or no file goes on to READY.
---
 src/basic/,imports.s                       |  2 ++
 src/basic/init/basic_cold_start_internal.s | 14 ++++++++
 src/kernal/arnitech/arnitech_autoboot.s    | 40 ++++++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 56 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 src/kernal/arnitech/arnitech_autoboot.s

diff --git a/src/basic/,imports.s b/src/basic/,imports.s
index e0c61361..3864aa6c 100644
--- a/src/basic/,imports.s
+++ b/src/basic/,imports.s
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 
 ;; #ALIAS# SELDEV              = KERNAL_0.SELDEV
 
+;; #ALIAS# blade_autoboot      = KERNAL_0.blade_autoboot
+
 ;
 ; MEGA65 specific parts
 ;
diff --git a/src/basic/init/basic_cold_start_internal.s b/src/basic/init/basic_cold_start_internal.s
index 69905ddc..7f036587 100644
--- a/src/basic/init/basic_cold_start_internal.s
+++ b/src/basic/init/basic_cold_start_internal.s
@@ -50,6 +50,20 @@ basic_cold_start_internal:
 	; This is for maximum C64 compatibility
 	jsr copy_CHRGET
 
+}
+
+!ifdef CONFIG_ARNITECH_BLADE {
+
+	; A Blade starts its program itself: LOAD"*",8 and RUN, unless RUN/STOP is held or the
+	; LOAD fails (arnitech's ADR 0030). Out of direct mode, LOAD's own end RUNs the program.
+
+	jsr blade_autoboot
+	bcs @3
+	lda #$00
+	sta VERCKB
+	sta CURLIN+1
+	jmp cmd_load_no_error
+@3:
 }
 
 	; jump into warm start loop
diff --git a/src/kernal/arnitech/arnitech_autoboot.s b/src/kernal/arnitech/arnitech_autoboot.s
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e5a5c057
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/kernal/arnitech/arnitech_autoboot.s
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+;; #LAYOUT# STD *        #TAKE
+;; #LAYOUT# *   *        #IGNORE
+
+;
+; Autoboot of the Blade Firmware (mc64blade only, arnitech's ADR 0030): BASIC's cold start, before
+; READY., has a Blade LOAD"*",8, the first program on its internal drive's Floppy, and RUNs it.
+;
+; Out: carry clear if the program loaded, with X/Y the address after its end; carry set if
+; RUN/STOP is held on the Terminal Card, or the LOAD failed (no Floppy, no file, no drive).
+;
+
+!ifdef CONFIG_ARNITECH_BLADE {
+
+blade_autoboot:
+
+	jsr terminal_find
+	bcs @1
+	lda TERMINAL_STATUS, x
+	and #TERMINAL_STOP_HELD
+	beq @1
+	sec
+	rts
+@1:
+	lda #$01
+	ldx #<blade_autoboot_name
+	ldy #>blade_autoboot_name
+	jsr JSETNAM
+	lda #$00
+	ldx #$08
+	ldy #$00                           ; secondary address 0: to BASIC's start
+	jsr JSETFLS
+	lda #$00                           ; LOAD, not VERIFY
+	ldx TXTTAB+0
+	ldy TXTTAB+1
+	jmp JLOAD
+
+blade_autoboot_name:
+
+	!byte $2A                          ; "*"
+}