CHIP-8 Emulator

A CHIP-8 emulator developed in modern C++ using WinAPI and GDI+. This project is designed for Windows systems and features a responsive graphical interface, interactive controls, and built-in debugging tools. Built from the ground up to serve both as a learning platform and a technical showcase of low-level programming.

Game Previews

The following GIFs demonstrate a few classic games running on this emulator:

RushHour:

Space Invaders:

Brix:

Tetris:

Keyboard Layout

The emulator maps your keyboard to the original CHIP-8 hexadecimal keypad as follows:

CHIP-8 Keypad Layout:

1	2	3	C
4	5	6	D
7	8	9	E
A	0	B	F

Keyboard Mapping:

1	2	3	4
Q	W	E	R
A	S	D	F
Z	X	C	V

How to Run

Requirements

• Windows OS only – This emulator uses native WinAPI and GDI+ for rendering and user interface.
• No additional dependencies – A C++17-compatible compiler and make utility are required (e.g., MinGW or MSYS2).

This emulator is not compatible with macOS or Linux due to its use of Windows-specific APIs.

Running a Game

To run a CHIP-8 ROM, click the Load button to select a .ch8 file. Once loaded, click Start to begin execution:

Build Instructions

1. Open a terminal and navigate to the src directory:

   cd src

2. Build and launch the emulator:

   make

3. To clean up generated files:

   make clean

Documentation and References

Architecture Overview

• Modular Design:
  • Chip8: System coordinator
  • CPU, Memory, Display: Core functional modules
• User Interface:
  • Real-time visualization of memory, stack, and registers
  • Custom GDI+ rendering
  • ROM loader and UI buttons for control (Start, Pause, Reset, Load)
• Input Handling:
  • Fully supports the CHIP-8 hexadecimal keypad layout
• Audio Feedback:
  • Sound playback via WinMM

Technical References

• Cowgod's CHIP-8 Technical Reference
• CHIP-8 on Wikipedia
• CHIP-8 Instruction Set
• Guide to making a CHIP-8 emulator
• Games For CHIP-8

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Project Purpose

This emulator was created as a practical exploration of low-level development, real-time graphics rendering, and system emulation using Windows-native technologies. It serves both as a hands-on learning tool and a demonstration of competency in systems programming and emulator architecture.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. Contributions and feedback are welcome.