Starting emulation...

[bronxbomber92]

Hey, I've been wanting to get into emulation for awhile now. I'm porting over a 8080a hardware emulator to the PSP, but its not vry hard since not much has to be changed really (I don't actually need to know how emulation works is what I'm saying). So my question is which plateform console/comp/ect.. is the best to start out for emulation, and where is a good place to learn the concepts of emulation?
Thanks for any and all help! ~Bronx

[|\/|-a-\/]

take a look at the sticky chip8 emulation thread

[bronxbomber92]

I have :)... I think thats what I'm gonna start out with

[|\/|-a-\/]

good luck! there are some very good docs in the chip8 thread...
i never finished my chip8 emu, i quitted, when i thought, i understood everything. Then i tried a nes emu. When some demos worked i got confused and bored about some nes hardware things and started with gameboy. i think gameboy is the best system to continue with emu programming ^^

[bronxbomber92]

Yep, I have read most of that thread, and I'm reading the docs! Also oddly enough, I plan on trying a gb emu after this :p

BTW, did I mention I'm writing this for the PSP? :P
shhhhhh ;)

[|\/|-a-\/]

so nobody can say "it already exists 10000 times" ^^

[bronxbomber92]

Ok, well I started my chip8 emu and its going well. Just I'm writing it for the PSP, but I would like to port it to windows using SDL. Just my question is, is there a windows sdk(or anything like that?)?

[|\/|-a-\/]

i see no problem, sdl runs well under windows... alternatively you can use the win api. if you want to port it to other systems i recommend gtkmm or wxWidgets...

[bronxbomber92]

Ok, thanks... I'm assuming the windows api is on microsofts website somewhere?

[Garstyciuks]

It usually comes with the compiler. If it does not, then it should be on microsofts website, called "Platform SDK" (If I'm not mistakeing)

[Doomulation]

The API is documented online and is available in the Windows SDK. However, generally you won't need it as the necessary libraries & headers comes with the dev studios.

[bronxbomber92]

Dev studios.... I don't have those either(unless you mean with visual studio or w/e, which I don't think you do) :p

[Doomulation]

Dev studio means development studio. And a development studio is a UI complete with compiler & linker, among other things. So yes, visual studio among them.

[bronxbomber92]

What's the next easiest system to emulate after the chip8? Is gameboy fairly easy (relatively speaking)

[Doomulation]

Gameboy is pretty advanced. Not fairly easy at all.

[ShizZy]

Kinna. It's very challenging if you are fresh out of chip8, and lack a ton of programming experience. However, in the entire scheme of things, gameboy is quite simple. You can only really realize it (and get an appreciation for it) after working on much larger scale projects.

[bronxbomber92]

So what would the next easiest be after moving on from the chip8?

[ShizZy]

Probably something like atari... but your better off going right to GB.

[bronxbomber92]

Hmmm... Maybe I'll try SMS, then move onto the GB. Also, I'm learning 3D, so we'll see where I go :p Thanks for the suggestions.

[ShizZy]

GB is easier than SMS.

[synch]

GB is not that hard, just requires a bit of time to have the cpu core more or less perfect, the rest (LCD and interrupt emulation) is VERY simple. But that's from my point of view.

[bronxbomber92]

Would the switch statement technique due for it? or would dynamic or static recompilation be better for the GB?

(Just wondering for future reference)

[ShizZy]

Switch works just fine, at more than fullspeed. Also note, SMS has a bit more tricky mem paging, and a more advanced tiling system.

[bronxbomber92]

oh :/.... Idk what todo after the chip8 :p, lol

I wanna try something easy once more just to get the hang on emulation, and the understanding of how hardware works... maybe atari 800 (or 2600)?

[Doomulation]

The Gameboy has many things the Chip8 did not - IO, Interrupts, timing, etc. It is very advanced for someone who just completed Chip8 to begin.
Unless someone walks that newbie through the process ;)

[ShizZy]

Yes, but you have to start somewhere. If you completed chip8 without too much extra help, gameboy is your next step, no questions asked.

[Doomulation]

Maybe and maybe not. That is subjective and can be discussed. There are easier systems to emulate before Gameboy.

[bronxbomber92]

Maybe and maybe not. That is subjective and can be discussed. There are easier systems to emulate before Gameboy.
Which are...?
I mean, the only help I had with chip8 was actualy understanding how the opcodes work (as can be seen in the chip8 thread) and with opcode 0x0D... Pretty much everything else I was able todo by myself. Though its not finished yet :p. I still have to load the rom and create input for the controls....

[Doomulation]

Then I suggest you actually complete your emulator and hunt down the bugs to make the games running before moving on.
There have been some post-chip8 threads which you could look at because I don't remember what system are easier to emulate than Gameboy.

[bronxbomber92]

Don't worry, I'll finish it. I'm not just going to give up...

[Doomulation]

Of course not. But I'm implying that perhaps it is a little premature to ask about the next system to emulate when you haven't even finished Chip8.

[bronxbomber92]

I know what you mean :)
I'm just trying to prepared, because when I try to decide on a project, it takes me like forever to decide, and read about it... So I don't wanna be taking forever just to start a project after this :p

[bronxbomber92]

Ok, I think my emulator is done (hopefully) ^_^
I can't compile it yet because everything is messed up right now on my comp, so I don't really know yet. So granted there are 0 errors (but most likely there bounds to be some) Its done.

I may add a menu to it also :)