# Adding a BASIC stub to the start of a binary file

A "BASIC stub" is a BASIC program attached to the start of a binary file.

The file has the following form:

BASIC stub | Binary program & data

The simplest BASIC stub is:

    10 CALL <execution address>

where <execution address> is the address to start executing the binary program from.

e.g.

    10 CALL &17C

Advantages:

- The binary program can be loaded as low as &17C without any special loader.
- The program is not executed by the firmware function "MC BOOT PROGRAM", and therefore the disc operating system will remain enabled.

Disadvantages: