https://github.com/dnutiu/chip8-rust

A chip8 emulator writen in Rust
https://github.com/dnutiu/chip8-rust

chip8 emulation emulator rust rustlang

Last synced: 4 days ago
JSON representation

A chip8 emulator writen in Rust

• Host: GitHub
• URL: https://github.com/dnutiu/chip8-rust
• Owner: dnutiu
• License: unlicense
• Created: 2024-11-17T21:07:43.000Z (about 1 month ago)
• Default Branch: master
• Last Pushed: 2024-12-17T14:01:23.000Z (8 days ago)
• Last Synced: 2024-12-20T06:45:22.495Z (6 days ago)
• Topics: chip8, emulation, emulator, rust, rustlang
• Language: Rust
• Homepage: https://blog.nuculabs.dev/
• Size: 130 KB
• Stars: 2
• Watchers: 1
• Forks: 1
• Open Issues: 1
• Metadata Files:
  • Readme: README.md
  • License: LICENSE

Awesome Lists containing this project

README

        
# Chip8 Emulator

A Chip8 emulator written in [Rust](https://www.rust-lang.org/) (1.83.0) for learning and educational purposes.

In turns inside your Terminal and the code can be easily modified to run in other envionments.

See it in action:

### Space Invaders

[![asciicast](https://asciinema.org/a/694431.svg)](https://asciinema.org/a/694431)

### Pong

[![asciicast](https://asciinema.org/a/Q7TCN6e1V2y2Vfm2tCiCSzsAd.svg)](https://asciinema.org/a/Q7TCN6e1V2y2Vfm2tCiCSzsAd)

---

## About Chip8

CHIP-8 is an interpreted programming language and a simple virtual machine designed primarily for running on 8-bit microcomputers and other systems in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by Joseph Weisbecker for RCA's COSMAC VIP microcomputer, CHIP-8 was intended to make programming more accessible by providing a higher-level language that could abstract away the complexities of direct hardware manipulation.

The CHIP-8 architecture features a straightforward design:

    CPU: It uses a 16-bit address space and has 16 8-bit registers (V0-VF), where VF often serves as a flag register. Instructions are 2 bytes long, allowing for 35 possible opcodes.

    Memory: There are 4KB (4096 bytes) of RAM, with the first 512 bytes reserved for the interpreter itself, leaving 3584 bytes for programs and data.

    Display: A 64x32 pixel monochrome display where each pixel can be either on or off.

    Input: It handles input through a 16-key hexadecimal keypad.

    Timers: Two timers (delay and sound) decrement at 60 Hz, providing simple timing mechanisms.

CHIP-8 games and programs were typically small, often fitting within the limited memory constraints, and included classics like "Pong", "Space Invaders", and "Tetris" adaptations. The simplicity of CHIP-8 has made it a popular choice for educational purposes, teaching fundamentals of computer architecture, programming, and emulation. Modern emulators and interpreters for CHIP-8 exist on various platforms, including web browsers, allowing enthusiasts to run and even develop new games for this vintage system. This has kept CHIP-8 relevant as a tool for understanding basic computing concepts and low-level programming.

## How is this project organized

The project is written in Rust and it's organized in the following modules:

```shell

.

├── Cargo.lock

├── Cargo.toml

├── LICENSE

├── proprietary_roms # Roms which I have no permission to share here.

├── README.md

├── roms

│   ├── 1-chip8-logo.ch8 # Chip8 Logo Test ROM

│   ├── 3-corax+.ch8 # Corax+ Instructions Test ROM

│   └── ibm-logo.ch8 # IBM Logo Test ROM

├── src

│   ├── display.rs # The screen / display module.

│   ├── emulator.rs # The emulator logic which emulates the CPU.

│   ├── input.rs # The input logic.

│   ├── instruction.rs # The instruction decoding logic.

│   ├── main.rs # The main file. This is the entrypoint.

│   ├── sound.rs # The sound module.

│   └── stack.rs # A stack implementation.

```

---

Made with ❤️ by [NucuLabs.dev](https://blog.nuculabs.dev)

Follow me on 🦋 or 🐘 and let's chat: 

- BlueSky: [@nuculabs.dev](https://bsky.app/profile/nuculabs.dev)

- Mastodon: [@nuculabs](https://mastodon.social/@nuculabs)