gameboy-rust/README.md
0xrsydn a28b830b38 feat(testing): pin public ARM fixture and document compatibility baseline
Add a standard-library Python adapter and SHA-256/size lock for jsmolka/gba-tests ARM at a7113b67e63f83a9b321696ddd7042ccfad6c881. Retain sources and license locally, refuse tracked output paths or overwrites, verify offline inputs, and generate the source-verified eval/r12 suite checkpoint without patching the ROM.

Add Python to the pinned Nix shell, offline adapter regressions, and public-test provenance/results documentation. Verified on Darwin arm64: Rust debug/release workspace tests, adapter tests, Clippy, rustdoc, native ROM and all demo window checks. The public test remains a failing baseline at instruction 0xe5b00004, PC 0x0800132c, in test 360.
2026-10-05 20:01:08 +07:00

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gameboy-rust

Game Boy family emulation in Rust, written from scratch. The Game Boy Advance (GBA) is the first and currently only system.

This cannot run Pokémon Emerald or other commercial games yet. It is an emulator foundation: an ARM7TDMI interpreter, memory bus, timers, DMA, Mode 0–5 video, and an original BIOS replacement. The included demos run original ARM test programs through the emulated hardware. Raw ROM files can run in terminal sessions or a window with keyboard input. Audio and saves are not implemented.

Layout

Crate Purpose
crates/gba-core Platform-independent GBA emulator. No external Rust dependencies.
crates/gba-demos Original test programs that drive the core.
crates/desktop Native window frontend on minifb. Builds the gameboy-rust executable.

Quick start

macOS on Apple Silicon is the verified platform. Install Nix (with flakes) and direnv, then:

direnv allow .
direnv exec . cargo run --locked --release -- --tile-demo
direnv exec . cargo test --locked

Arrows scroll, Q rotates, W zooms, Z flips, X changes priority, Enter resets, and Escape exits. Run direnv exec . cargo run --locked -- --help to list all modes. For original ROM files, use --rom path/to/original.gba --window, or --steps 100000 instead of --window for terminal diagnostics. See cartridge loading for limits and report meanings. Use --test-suite suite.json for repeatable headless ROM assertions.

Documentation

Document Contents
docs/status.md What works today, deliberate limits, and next steps
docs/demos.md Every demo, its command, and its controls
docs/development.md Nix, direnv, and macOS build notes
docs/testing.md Validation commands and what the test suites cover
docs/rom-tests.md Headless ROM suites, completion checks, assertions, and JSON reports
docs/public-arm-tests.md Pinned public ARM test, preparation command, and known failures
docs/architecture.md Crate boundaries and a file-by-file map
docs/hardware/cpu.md ARM/Thumb execution rules, modes, exceptions, and timing
docs/hardware/cartridge.md ROM loading, window/input controls, original ROM generator, and diagnostics
docs/hardware/bios.md The original BIOS replacement and each supported service
docs/hardware/timers-irq.md Timers, interrupt registers, HALT/STOP, and power control
docs/hardware/dma.md DMA channels, triggers, and timing
docs/hardware/display-timing.md Display clock, status, IRQs, and scanline capture
docs/hardware/video.md Backgrounds, sprites, mosaic, windows, color effects, and input
docs/references.md External hardware references and emulator sources consulted

Coding agents should start with AGENTS.md.

All demo content and the BIOS replacement are original. No Nintendo code or assets are included. Only use game ROMs that you may lawfully use. Do not commit game ROMs, BIOS files, or game assets.