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Build a CHIP-8 Emulator

Build the simplest possible emulator: 35 opcodes, 4KB RAM, 16 registers, 64x32 display. Plays Pong, Tetris, Space Invaders. The on-ramp to NES, Game Boy, and bigger emulator projects.

intermediate13 lessons4 chapters13 graded exercisesPython
Start course — it’s freeWork in your own editor

No sign-up needed for lesson 1 · certificate on completion · sign up to save progress

What you’ll have built

Chapter by chapter. Every step is a graded exercise.

  • CHIP-8 Architecture
  • Instructions
  • Display & Input
  • Production
Starts in Python — solve in the language you choose in the editor, same tests either way.

Curriculum

4 chapters, 13 lessons. Each lesson is a short read, one graded exercise, and a quiz.

  1. 1What CHIP-8 IsRead · exercise · quiz
  2. 2Registers & MemoryRead · exercise · quiz
  3. 3Fetch-Decode-ExecuteRead · exercise · quiz
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