I’m happy to announce the full open-sourcing of Continuum 93 - a project born out of a desire to create a "fantasy" 24-bit virtual computer with a focus on simplicity and powerful, somewhat constrained development.
C93 is an emulator/platform that models a machine whose hardware never existed, combining the nostalgic constraints of 8-bit systems (like the ZX Spectrum) with modern Quality-of-Life features for game and application development.
The Technical Core
I built C93 from the ground up to be a unique challenge and a powerful tool:
• Virtual Architecture: C93 operates on a 24-bit virtual machine with a custom Assembly language and a large, flat 16MB address space.
• The Register Banks: A core feature is the set of 256 switchable register banks. This eliminates the constant need for pushing/popping registers in subroutines, making low-level Assembly programming cleaner and faster.
• Graphics: Features a fixed 480:270 resolution, but with modern layered control -offering 8 independent video layers that can be manipulated for complex effects, sprites, and UI overlays.
• Audio: Includes an integrated JSFXR-based sound generator for crafting unique, retro-style music and effects.
The project is already stable, complete with a compiler, logging system, and a dedicated network debugger. There’s also a minimalist OS and a small library of demos running on the platform.
Why Open Source? (it's about scale)
I am open-sourcing the project now precisely because of its stability with an invitation to the community to help realize the next ambitious phase of C93:
1. Compiler Development: Aiming to expand accessibility. The next major effort will be developing higher-level language compilers (targeting Assembly) to lower the barrier of entry for new developers while preserving the performance integrity.
2. Hardware Porting: While C93 is highly optimized, community input on porting the emulator to new, low-power hardware (like various single-board computers) will be critical for achieving true ubiquity.
3. Core Tooling: The platform requires community expertise to design and implement sophisticated creator tools (like optimized sprite editors, advanced debugging features, and improved music creation interfaces).
The Future Vision (Ubiquity and Creation)
Ultimately, C93 is not just an emulator; it is a vision for a creator-centric virtual console ecosystem. I believe simplicity and constraints breed creativity. The goal is to create a seamless, accessible environment where many developers can prototype and publish games faster than ever before, using a unique "retro-future" aesthetic and experience across almost any hardware.
I invite you to read the documentation, explore the source code and join the discussion!
EnthusiastGuy•1h ago
C93 is an emulator/platform that models a machine whose hardware never existed, combining the nostalgic constraints of 8-bit systems (like the ZX Spectrum) with modern Quality-of-Life features for game and application development.
The Technical Core I built C93 from the ground up to be a unique challenge and a powerful tool: • Virtual Architecture: C93 operates on a 24-bit virtual machine with a custom Assembly language and a large, flat 16MB address space. • The Register Banks: A core feature is the set of 256 switchable register banks. This eliminates the constant need for pushing/popping registers in subroutines, making low-level Assembly programming cleaner and faster. • Graphics: Features a fixed 480:270 resolution, but with modern layered control -offering 8 independent video layers that can be manipulated for complex effects, sprites, and UI overlays. • Audio: Includes an integrated JSFXR-based sound generator for crafting unique, retro-style music and effects. The project is already stable, complete with a compiler, logging system, and a dedicated network debugger. There’s also a minimalist OS and a small library of demos running on the platform.
Why Open Source? (it's about scale) I am open-sourcing the project now precisely because of its stability with an invitation to the community to help realize the next ambitious phase of C93: 1. Compiler Development: Aiming to expand accessibility. The next major effort will be developing higher-level language compilers (targeting Assembly) to lower the barrier of entry for new developers while preserving the performance integrity. 2. Hardware Porting: While C93 is highly optimized, community input on porting the emulator to new, low-power hardware (like various single-board computers) will be critical for achieving true ubiquity. 3. Core Tooling: The platform requires community expertise to design and implement sophisticated creator tools (like optimized sprite editors, advanced debugging features, and improved music creation interfaces).
The Future Vision (Ubiquity and Creation) Ultimately, C93 is not just an emulator; it is a vision for a creator-centric virtual console ecosystem. I believe simplicity and constraints breed creativity. The goal is to create a seamless, accessible environment where many developers can prototype and publish games faster than ever before, using a unique "retro-future" aesthetic and experience across almost any hardware.
I invite you to read the documentation, explore the source code and join the discussion!
Itch: https://enthusiastguy.itch.io/continuum93 (use this to check out the documentation) GitHub repo: https://github.com/EnthusiastGuy/Continuum-93 Discord channel: https://discord.gg/6AYkhnzxD9