CHIP-8 Emulator

A simple CHIP-8 emulator built using Python and Pygame.

Features

✔ Loads CHIP-8 ROMs

✔ Executes opcodes

✔ Renders graphics using pygame

✔ Supports keyboard input

✔ Implements timers and sound

The Process

1. Understanding CHIP-8 Architecture

Researched CHIP-8, its memory structure, registers, opcodes, and display mechanics.

Studied how CHIP-8 interpreters work and how they execute instructions.

2. Finding a Reference Implementation

Discovered a CHIP-8 emulator written in C from this GitHub repository.

Analyzed its structure, key functions, and overall implementation.

3. Converting the C Code to Python

Used the C implementation as a reference to understand how the emulator processes opcodes.

With AI assistance, rewrote the core logic in Python while ensuring readability and maintainability.

4. Implementing Key Components in Python

Memory & Registers: Defined memory, registers, stack, and program counter in Python.

Opcode Handling: Implemented opcode fetching, decoding, and execution.

Display: Used a Python library (such as Pygame) to handle graphics rendering.

Input Handling: Mapped CHIP-8 keys to modern keyboard inputs.

Timers: Implemented delay and sound timers using Python’s timing functions.

5. Testing and Debugging

Ran multiple CHIP-8 ROMs to check opcode execution accuracy.

Debugged and fixed issues related to rendering, input, and opcode behavior.

6. Final Improvements

Optimized performance for smooth execution.

Cleaned up the code and improved structure for maintainability.

Verified functionality with additional CHIP-8 programs.

Controls (QWERTY Keyboard → CHIP-8 Keys)

1 2 3 4      →     1 2 3 C
Q W E R      →     4 5 6 D
A S D F      →     7 8 9 E
Z X C V      →     A 0 B F