Applesoft: Auto RUN byte and protecting programs

A byte in memory causes any Applesoft command entered from command mode to be interpreted as a RUN command.

POKE 82,213
SAVE

causes this automatic RUN byte to be set when the program is loaded from tape. This "protection" scheme is very easy to defeat, and is not widely used. It does not protect the program from DOS commands.

POKE 214,128
sets the auto-run byte from command mode or from within a program. Take care with this POKE because there is no way to reverse it from command mode because the next POKE will RUN the program.

POKE 214,0
from within a program will return the auto-run byte to normal.
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012