SpecIde is (yet another) ZX Spectrum (and, partially, Amstrad CPC) emulator. Currently, the ZX Spectrum emulation is quite accurate. The Amstrad CPC emulation is still a work in progress, but it is mostly enough for playing most games. Some of the supported features are:
- Emulation of ZX Spectrum 48K (Issue 2/3), 128K, +2, +2A and +3.
- Emulation of Amstrad CPC 464/664/6128. No support for Plus models yet!
- FDC765 disk drive emulation. (Scan commands are missing yet)
- Emulation of Spanish 128K, +2, +2A and +3.
- Emulation of Pentagon timings (but no BetaDisk yet! Sorry for that!)
- PSG (AY-3-8912/YM-2149) sound emulation.
- Turbosound emulation. Supports two and four PSG modes.
- Covox/Soundrive emulation.
- Loading of tapes via .tap and .tzx tape images, and .csw files.
- Loading of disks via .dsk disk images.
- Flashloading of .tap files and .tzx that use the ROM routines.
- Saving to .tap files.
- Full screen video mode detection.
- Double scan interlaced modes. (Gigascreen modes)
- Kempston/Sinclair joystick emulation from the PC joystick/gamepad.
- Works in GNU/Linux, Windows, and MacOS.
From time to time, (when I remember to do it), I update these:
- SpecIde for Windows 8/10 (32-bit)
- SpecIde for Windows 8/10 (64-bit)
- SpecIde for older Windows (XP/Vista/7) (32-bit)
- SpecIde for older Windows (XP/Vista/7) (64-bit)
For GNU/Linux and MacOS I'm not providing binaries, but SpecIde can be compiled quite easily.
- Install libboost. At least chrono, system, thread and unit_test_framework are required.
- Install libsfml. Audio, graphics, window and system components are required.
- Install cmake.
- Install zlib1g.
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/MartianGirl/SpecIde.git
- Go into the 'source' directory.
- Run:
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .
- Run:
make clean && make install
- The binaries will be installed in 'source/bin'. The test binaries will be installed in 'source/bin/tst'
- Copy the roms from the spectrum-roms package (or find them online) to the $HOME/.SpecIde/roms directory.
- Download this font to the $HOME/.SpecIde/font directory.
- Run: bin/SpecIde [options] <TZXFile.tzx|TAPFile.tap|DSKFile.dsk>
- Install brew:
/usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
- Install cmake:
brew install cmake
- Install boost:
brew install boost
- Install sfml:
brew install sfml
- Install zlib:
brew install zlib
- Install pkgconfig:
brew install pkgconfig
- Simlink FindSFML.cmake in cmake modules
ln -s $(brew --prefix sfml)/share/SFML/cmake/Modules/FindSFML.cmake $(brew --prefix cmake)/share/cmake/Modules/FindSFML.cmake
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/MartianGirl/SpecIde.git
- Go into the 'source' directory.
- Run:
cmake -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release .
- Build it!:
make clean && make install
- Copy the roms from the spectrum-roms package (or find them online) to the $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpecIde/roms directory.
- Download this font to the $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpecIde/font directory.
- Run: bin/SpecIde [options] <TZXFile.tzx|TAPFile.tap|DSKFile.dsk>
I've successfully compiled SpecIde with MinGW32 and Visual Studio 2015 & 2017.
I've included a script RunCMake.bat that helps in the build process.
- Install and compile boost. Add the binaries to the PATH.
- Install and compile sfml. Add the binaries to the PATH.
- Install and compile zlib. Add the binaries to the PATH.
- Install cmake.
- (Optional) Install ninja-builds. It really helps building SpecIde.
- Edit the RunCMake.bat script. You need to change the lines:
set BOOST_ROOT=\<Path_to_Boost_root_directory\>
andset SFML_ROOT=\<Path_to_SFML_binaries\>
- Run:
RunCMake \[GNU|MS|NINJAGNU|NINJAMS\] RELEASE
- Build it!:
ninja clean & ninja install
ormingw32-make clean & mingw32-make install
(or use Visual Studio IDE) - Copy the roms from the spectrum-roms package (or find them online) to the %APPDATA%/SpecIde/roms directory.
- Download this font to the %APPDATA%/SpecIde/font directory.
- Run it!: bin\SpecIde [options] <TZXFile.tzx|TAPFile.tap|DSKFile.dsk>
SpecIde is invoked from the command line. To run SpecIde, type:
SpecIde [options] [tapefiles|diskfiles]
Supported formats are TAP, TZX and DSK.
The following command line options are available:
Model selection options:
--issue2 Spectrum 48K, issue 2.
--issue3 | --48 Spectrum 48K, issue 3. (Default)
--48sp Spectrum + 48K. (Spanish ROM)
--128 Spectrum 128K.
--128sp Spectrum 128K. (Spanish ROM)
--plus2 Spectrum +2.
--plus2sp Spectrum +2. (Spanish ROM)
--plus2a Spectrum +2A.
--plus2asp Spectrum +2A. (Spanish ROM)
--plus3 Spectrum +3.
--plus3sp Spectrum +3. (Spanish ROM)
--pentagon Pentagon 128.
--cpc464 Amstrad CPC 464.
--cpc664 Amstrad CPC 664.
--cpc6128 Amstrad CPC 6128.
Joystick options:
--kempston Map joystick to Kempston interface.
--sinclair Map joystick to Sinclair interface. (Default)
--pad|--nopad Map pad extra buttons to keys.
PSG options:
--psg|--nopsg Emulate AY chip in 48K Spectrum.
--abc|--acb|--mono Select stereo mode.
--ay|--ym Select PSG: AY-3-8912/YM-2149.
--turbo Select TurboSound with 2 PSGs. (mono)
--turboacb|--turboabc Select TurboSound with 2 PSGs. (stereo ACB/ABC)
--turbonext Select Next-style TurboSound with 4 PSGs.
Covox options:
--covox LPT Covox on port 0xFB (Mono)
--covox2 Stereo Covox (ports 0xFB and 0x4F)
--covox3 Czech Covox (ports 0x1F, 0x3F, 0x5F)
--soundrive1 Soundrive on ports 0x0F, 0x1F, 0x4F, 0x5F.
--soundrive2 Soundrive on ports 0xF1, 0xF3, 0xF9, 0xFB.
--nocovox No Covox present.
Misc hardware options:
--sd1 Emulate Dinamic SD1 hardware protection.
--cmos|--nmos Emulate CMOS/NMOS Z80. (Affects OUT(C),0 instruction)
Video options:
--fullscreen Start SpecIde in full screen mode.
--window Start SpecIde in windowed mode.
--scanlines Render PAL double scan mode.
--average Render PAL double scan mode, averaging scanlines.
--nodoublescan Single scan mode. (Default)
--sync Sync emulation to PC video refresh rate (only 50Hz)
Sound options (add prefix 'no' to disable. Eg. --nosound):
--sound Enable buzzer/PSG sound. (Default)
--tapesound Enable tape sound.
Emulation options (add prefix 'no' to disable. Eg. --noflashtap):
--flashtap Enable ROM traps for LOAD and SAVE.
When the emulator is running, pressing F1 displays help about the function keys.
Key | Function |
---|---|
F1 | Display help. |
F2 | Switch between fullscreen and windowed mode. |
F3 | Save DSK file to disk. |
Shift-F3 | Create blank DSK file. |
F4 | Select next disk image. |
Shift-F4 | Select previous disk image. |
F5 | Reset the Spectrum. |
F6 | Clear SAVE buffer. |
Shift-F6 | Add FlashTAP to SAVE buffer. |
F7 | Write SAVE buffer to disk. |
Shift-F7 | Use SAVE buffer as FlashTAP. |
F8 | Toggle PSG: AY-3-8912/YM-2149. |
F9 | Turn sound on/off. |
Shift-F9 | Turn tape sounds on/off. |
F10 | Exit the emulator. |
F11 | Play/Stop the tape. |
Shift-F11 | Remember tape position. (Reset tape counter to zero). |
F12 | Rewind tape to start. |
Shift-F12 | Rewind tape to saved position. (Rewind to tape counter zero). |
Finally, SpecIde looks for a configuration file (SpecIde.cfg) in the following places:
- Current directory: ./SpecIde.cfg
- On GNU/Linux: $HOME/.SpecIde/SpecIde.cfg
- On MacOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpecIde/SpecIde.cfg
- On Windows: %APPDATA%\SpecIde\SpecIde.cfg
A template SpecIde.cfg.template is provided in the source code.
System ROMs can be placed also in the config directory:
- On GNU/Linux: $HOME/.SpecIde/roms
- On MacOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpecIde/roms
- On Windows: %APPDATA%\SpecIde\roms
The following ROMs are included in the binary packages:
File Name | Model | Size |
---|---|---|
48.rom | Spectrum 48K | 16K |
128-0.rom | Spectrum 128K (ROM 0) | 16K |
128-1.rom | Spectrum 128K (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus2-0.rom | Spectrum +2 (ROM 0) | 16K |
plus2-1.rom | Spectrum +2 (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus3-0.rom | Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 0) | 16K |
plus3-1.rom | Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus3-2.rom | Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 2) | 16K |
plus3-3.rom | Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 3) | 16K |
128-spanish-0.rom | Spanish Spectrum 128K (ROM 0) | 16K |
128-spanish-1.rom | Spanish Spectrum 128K (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus2-spanish-0.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2 (ROM 0) | 16K |
plus2-spanish-1.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2 (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus3-spanish-0.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 0) | 16K |
plus3-spanish-1.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 1) | 16K |
plus3-spanish-2.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 2) | 16K |
plus3-spanish-3.rom | Spanish Spectrum +2A/+3 (ROM 3) | 16K |
pentagon-0.rom | Pentagon 128 (ROM 0 - 128K + TR-DOS support) | 16K |
pentagon-1.rom | Pentagon 128 (ROM 1 - 48K BASIC) | 16K |
trdos.rom | TR-DOS ROM for BetaDisk 128 | 16K |
amsdos.rom | AmsDOS ROM for CPC 664/6128 | 16K |
cpc464.rom | BASIC ROM for CPC 464 | 32K |
cpc664.rom | BASIC ROM for CPC 664 | 32K |
cpc6128.rom | BASIC ROM for CPC 6128 | 32K |
Also, the font can be placed in here:
- On GNU/Linux: $HOME/.SpecIde/font
- On MacOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/SpecIde/font
- On Windows: %APPDATA%\SpecIde\font
This is an attempt at writing a ZX Spectrum emulator using SFML for video, audio and user interface. The goals I set for myself were:
- Accuracy. The emulator should work as much as possible like a real Spectrum. It should be easy to start in full screen mode, without having to select a video mode or care about difficult settings.
- Simplicity. The UI should be as simple as possible, and the emulator should operate only with the function keys as much as possible.
- Reliability. The emulator should never crash.
- Portability. The emulator should be easy to run in different platforms. I've been writing SpecIde mostly for learning and for trying to do a big project. So far, I am happy with the outcome! After I had the ZX Spectrum working, I thought I could try to emulate the Amstrad CPC series too, because many components are shared. So far, I've got the first three machines running, but there are still many details and problems to be fixed.
- David Garijo: For taking the time and helping with the MacOS build process.
- JFSebastian: For his wonderful ZXSpectrum.ttf font.
- Ast_A_Moore: For all his help with the +2A timings and port 0x0FFD.
- César Hernández Bañó: For his help with the initial values for IR register, his comments, and his own emulator ZesarUX.
- Miguel Mesa: For pointing out that the FLASH attribute was running at half speed.
- Weiv (for his tests), ICEknight (for his videos), and all the people who helped describing the ULA Snow Effect on 48K/128K/+2 machines.
- People from the #emulation discord for their ongoing testing efforts to discover every detail on the ZX Spectrum machines.