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-rw-r--r--.gitignore1
-rw-r--r--README.md98
-rwxr-xr-xgbctl2
-rw-r--r--src/main.c152
4 files changed, 198 insertions, 55 deletions
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 26ad2a5..5965ca5 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -5,3 +5,4 @@
*.sav
roms/
compile_commands.json
+/bios/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e03aedc..cd8687c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,14 +17,37 @@ over 2 s (~108×). Terminal resize (`SIGWINCH`) triggers a full repaint.
```sh
make
-./build/gbc path/to/rom.gb # interactive
-./build/gbc rom.gb --test 30 # run 30s, log serial to stderr (test roms)
-./build/gbc rom.gb --shot 60 out.ppm # run 60 frames, dump a PPM screenshot
-./build/gbc rom.gb --sixel 3 # sixel graphics output at 3x zoom
-./build/gbc rom.gb --sock # open a control/debug socket (/tmp/gbc.sock)
-./build/gbc rom.gb --headless # no video; serial <-> stdio (OS console)
+./build/gbc path/to/rom.gb # interactive (ROM is the final argument)
+./build/gbc --test 30 rom.gb # run 30s, log serial to stderr (test roms)
+./build/gbc --shot 60 out.ppm rom.gb # run 60 frames, dump a PPM screenshot
+./build/gbc --sixel 3 rom.gb # sixel graphics output at 3x zoom
+./build/gbc --sixel 3 --chrome rom.gb # ...wrapped in a Game Boy body/frame
+./build/gbc --bios rom.gb # boot through the BIOS before the game
+./build/gbc --sock rom.gb # open a control/debug socket (/tmp/gbc.sock)
+./build/gbc --headless rom.gb # no video; serial <-> stdio (OS console)
+./build/gbc --help # full option list
```
+### Boot ROM / BIOS (`--bios`)
+
+By default the emulator skips the boot ROM and starts the cartridge directly
+with the documented post-boot register state. Pass `--bios [path]` to instead
+run a real boot ROM first, so you get the authentic power-on animation (the
+Nintendo logo drop, and on a CGB the color splash + chime) before control is
+handed to the game:
+
+```sh
+./build/gbc --bios roms/pky.gbc # defaults to bios/gbc_bios.bin
+./build/gbc --bios path/to/boot.bin roms/pky.gbc
+./build/gbc --bios --sixel 3 --chrome roms/pky.gbc # boot inside the shell
+```
+
+The boot ROM is mapped over low memory (with the CGB header hole at
+`0x0100-0x01FF` where the cartridge shows through) and unmaps itself when the
+ROM writes `0xFF50`, exactly like hardware. A 256-byte image boots as DMG; a
+2304-byte image (like the bundled `bios/gbc_bios.bin`) boots as CGB — which
+also colorizes plain DMG games via the boot ROM's compatibility palette.
+
### Headless serial console (`--headless`)
For bring-up and debugging of an OS/monitor running on the emulated Game Boy,
@@ -39,10 +62,10 @@ Emulation is paced to native speed by default; add `--uncapped` to run flat out.
Because it's plain stdio it pipes and scripts cleanly:
```sh
-./build/gbc os.gb --headless # interactive byte console
-./build/gbc os.gb --headless --uncapped # as fast as possible
-printf 'ls\n' | ./build/gbc os.gb --headless # feed input, capture output
-./build/gbc os.gb --headless | tee session.log
+./build/gbc --headless os.gb # interactive byte console
+./build/gbc --headless --uncapped os.gb # as fast as possible
+printf 'ls\n' | ./build/gbc --headless os.gb # feed input, capture output
+./build/gbc --headless os.gb | tee session.log
```
The serial console model matches what a GB program expects: write the byte to
@@ -60,8 +83,8 @@ mlterm, Contour, recent iTerm2, etc.) pass `--sixel [scale]` to render true
pixels instead of half-blocks:
```sh
-./build/gbc rom.gb --sixel # default 2x zoom (320×288 pixels)
-./build/gbc rom.gb --sixel 4 # 4x zoom
+./build/gbc --sixel rom.gb # default 2x zoom (320×288 pixels)
+./build/gbc --sixel 4 rom.gb # 4x zoom
```
Each frame builds a per-frame palette from the framebuffer (≤256 entries — 4
@@ -71,6 +94,39 @@ run-length encoding. `scale` is an integer pixel zoom (1–6). Sixel frames are
sent in full (no inter-frame diffing), so combine with `--frameskip` on slower
terminals.
+#### Game Boy chrome
+
+Add `--chrome` (sixel only) to draw a DMG-style **sl0pboy** handheld around the
+LCD — screen bezel with accent stripe, power LED, silk-screened branding
+(`sl0pboy` logo, `DOT MATRIX WITH STEREO SOUND`, button labels), a D-pad, A/B
+buttons, Start/Select and a speaker grille. The controls light up while the
+matching button is held, so it doubles as an on-screen input display:
+
+```sh
+./build/gbc --sixel 3 --chrome rom.gb
+```
+
+The shell is drawn with flat colors so it adds only a handful of palette
+entries. It composites into a larger canvas (240×342 px before scaling), so a
+given `scale` produces a proportionally bigger image than the bare LCD.
+
+#### LCD palette (`--palette`)
+
+By default the LCD shows the game's true colors (the greenish DMG shades, or
+full CGB color). Pass `--palette NAME` to remap every LCD pixel to a 4-shade
+palette by luminance for the classic monochrome-LCD look — this even greens
+out full-color CGB games for that retro vibe:
+
+```sh
+./build/gbc --sixel 3 --chrome --palette dmg rom.gb # classic DMG-01 pea green
+./build/gbc --sixel 3 --green rom.gb # alias for --palette dmg
+./build/gbc --palette gray rom.gb # GB-Pocket grayscale
+```
+
+Names: `dmg`/`green` (the iconic `#9bbc0f` pea-green ramp) and `pocket`/`gray`
+(grayscale). The recolor applies to every render path — half-block, sixel and
+chrome — and only touches the LCD, not the drawn shell.
+
### Speed & frame skipping
The emulator always advances every Game Boy frame at the correct rate, so
@@ -80,9 +136,9 @@ frame skipping — the machine keeps running in real time while the terminal is
refreshed less often:
```sh
-./build/gbc rom.gb --frameskip 2 # emulate 60 fps, draw every 3rd frame (20 fps)
-./build/gbc rom.gb --fps 120 # run the game at 2x speed
-./build/gbc rom.gb --uncapped # run as fast as possible (turbo)
+./build/gbc --frameskip 2 rom.gb # emulate 60 fps, draw every 3rd frame (20 fps)
+./build/gbc --fps 120 rom.gb # run the game at 2x speed
+./build/gbc --uncapped rom.gb # run as fast as possible (turbo)
```
| Flag | Meaning |
@@ -119,7 +175,7 @@ can send true key-**release** events, so it gives deterministic input for
scripting and automated testing.
```sh
-./build/gbc rom.gb --fifo /tmp/gbc.fifo &
+./build/gbc --fifo /tmp/gbc.fifo rom.gb &
echo 'a' > /tmp/gbc.fifo # momentary tap of A
echo 'start' > /tmp/gbc.fifo # tap Start
echo '+left' > /tmp/gbc.fifo # press and HOLD Left
@@ -153,7 +209,7 @@ pushes asynchronous events when execution stops. Connect any line-oriented
client:
```sh
-./build/gbc rom.gb --sock /tmp/gbc.sock &
+./build/gbc --sock /tmp/gbc.sock rom.gb &
socat - UNIX-CONNECT:/tmp/gbc.sock # interactive
# or: nc -U /tmp/gbc.sock
```
@@ -190,7 +246,7 @@ or decimal; **memory bytes are hex** (so `read` output feeds straight back into
### Video capture & input replay (demo GIFs)
-Capture the RGB framebuffer to a flat file and turn it into a GIF:
+Capture the displayed frame to a flat file and turn it into a GIF:
```
./gbctl record start /abs/out.gbv 2 # capture 1 of every 2 frames (~30fps)
@@ -199,6 +255,12 @@ Capture the RGB framebuffer to a flat file and turn it into a GIF:
python3 tools/gbgif.py out.gbv out.gif --scale 3
```
+Recording captures exactly what's on screen: if the emulator was started with
+`--palette` and/or `--chrome`, those are baked into the capture (the `.gbv`
+header records the resulting dimensions, so e.g. chrome frames are 240×362 and
+`gbgif.py` picks that up automatically). `--shot` screenshots honor the same
+options. Start without them for the bare 160×144 true-color LCD.
+
Drive the ROM from a **synthesized input movie** instead of live input, for
reproducible demos. A movie is a text file of `<frames> [buttons...]` lines
(`a b start select up down left right`; none/`-` = released); the emulator
diff --git a/gbctl b/gbctl
index 287b16a..b926461 100755
--- a/gbctl
+++ b/gbctl
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def cmd_spawn(argv):
if "TMUX" not in os.environ:
die("not inside tmux; gbctl spawn needs a tmux session")
- cmd = [BIN, rom, "--sock", sock_path] + emu_args
+ cmd = [BIN, "--sock", sock_path] + emu_args + [rom] # ROM is the final arg
# exec via a shell wrapper so the pane stays around & shows a title
shell_cmd = "printf '\\033]2;gbc %s\\007'; exec %s" % (
os.path.basename(rom), " ".join(_shquote(c) for c in cmd))
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 40efe29..1f3a868 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -44,15 +44,59 @@ static u8 keys_mask(const char *keys, int frame) {
}
}
+static void print_usage(FILE *out, const char *prog) {
+ fprintf(out,
+"usage: %s [options] <rom>\n"
+"\n"
+"Emulate a Game Boy / Game Boy Color ROM. The ROM path is the final\n"
+"argument; all options precede it.\n"
+"\n"
+"display:\n"
+" --sixel [scale] sixel graphics output; scale = pixel zoom 1-6 (def 2)\n"
+" --chrome draw a Game Boy body around the LCD (sixel display)\n"
+" --palette NAME recolor the LCD: dmg|green (pea green), pocket|gray\n"
+" --green alias for --palette dmg\n"
+" --frameskip N draw 1 of every (N+1) frames\n"
+"\n"
+"speed:\n"
+" --fps N emulation speed cap in frames/sec (default 59.73)\n"
+" --uncapped run as fast as possible (alias: --turbo)\n"
+"\n"
+"boot:\n"
+" --bios [path] run a boot ROM first (default bios/gbc_bios.bin)\n"
+"\n"
+"control channels:\n"
+" --fifo [path] button-input named pipe (default /tmp/gbc.fifo)\n"
+" --sock [path] control/debug socket (default /tmp/gbc.sock)\n"
+"\n"
+"headless & testing:\n"
+" --headless no video; wire serial <-> stdio (OS console)\n"
+" --test [seconds] run N seconds then exit, logging serial (default 30)\n"
+" --shot N [file] run N frames, write a PPM screenshot (default shot.ppm)\n"
+" --keys STR scripted button taps: u d l r a b s(elect) e(start) .\n"
+"\n"
+" -h, --help show this help and exit\n",
+ prog);
+}
+
int main(int argc, char **argv) {
- if (argc < 2) {
- fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s <rom> [--test seconds] [--sixel [scale]] "
- "[--frameskip n] [--fps n] [--uncapped] [--fifo [path]] "
- "[--sock [path]] [--headless]\n",
- argv[0]);
+ const char *prog = argv[0];
+ // --help / -h anywhere on the line wins.
+ for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++)
+ if (!strcmp(argv[i], "-h") || !strcmp(argv[i], "--help")) {
+ print_usage(stdout, prog);
+ return 0;
+ }
+ if (argc < 2) { print_usage(stderr, prog); return 1; }
+
+ // The ROM is the final argument; everything before it is an option.
+ const char *rom = argv[argc - 1];
+ if (rom[0] == '-') {
+ fprintf(stderr, "%s: no ROM specified (it must be the final argument)\n\n",
+ prog);
+ print_usage(stderr, prog);
return 1;
}
- const char *rom = argv[1];
bool test = false;
double seconds = 30.0;
int shot_frames = -1;
@@ -63,41 +107,76 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
int frameskip = 0; // draw 1 of every (frameskip+1) frames
bool sixel = false; // use sixel graphics output
int sixel_scale = 2; // integer pixel zoom for sixel
+ bool chrome = false; // draw a Game Boy body around the LCD (sixel)
+ const char *palette = NULL; // LCD recolor: dmg/green, pocket/gray, or off
bool headless = false; // no video; serial <-> stdio (OS debug console)
+ const char *bios_path = NULL; // boot ROM to run before the cartridge
const char *keys = NULL; // scripted button taps for testing (u d l r a b s e .)
- for (int i = 2; i < argc; i++) {
- if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--test")) {
+
+ // Parse options in argv[1 .. argc-2]; the final argument is the ROM and is
+ // excluded here so options with optional values never swallow it.
+ for (int i = 1; i < argc - 1; i++) {
+ const char *a = argv[i];
+ // A value is available only if the next token is still within the
+ // option range (not the ROM) and isn't itself an option.
+ bool has_val = (i + 1 < argc - 1) && argv[i+1][0] != '-';
+ if (!strcmp(a, "--test")) {
test = true;
- if (i + 1 < argc) seconds = atof(argv[++i]);
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--shot")) {
- if (i + 1 < argc) shot_frames = atoi(argv[++i]);
- if (i + 1 < argc && argv[i+1][0] != '-') shot_path = argv[++i];
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--keys")) {
- if (i + 1 < argc) keys = argv[++i];
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--fifo")) {
- fifo_path = (i + 1 < argc && argv[i+1][0] != '-')
- ? argv[++i] : "/tmp/gbc.fifo";
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--sock") || !strcmp(argv[i], "--socket")) {
- sock_path = (i + 1 < argc && argv[i+1][0] != '-')
- ? argv[++i] : "/tmp/gbc.sock";
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--fps")) {
- if (i + 1 < argc) target_fps = atof(argv[++i]);
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--frameskip")) {
- if (i + 1 < argc) frameskip = atoi(argv[++i]);
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--sixel")) {
+ if (has_val) seconds = atof(argv[++i]);
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--shot")) {
+ if (!has_val) { fprintf(stderr, "%s: --shot needs a frame count\n", prog); return 1; }
+ shot_frames = atoi(argv[++i]);
+ if ((i + 1 < argc - 1) && argv[i+1][0] != '-') shot_path = argv[++i];
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--keys")) {
+ if (!has_val) { fprintf(stderr, "%s: --keys needs a value\n", prog); return 1; }
+ keys = argv[++i];
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--fifo")) {
+ fifo_path = has_val ? argv[++i] : "/tmp/gbc.fifo";
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--sock") || !strcmp(a, "--socket")) {
+ sock_path = has_val ? argv[++i] : "/tmp/gbc.sock";
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--fps")) {
+ if (!has_val) { fprintf(stderr, "%s: --fps needs a value\n", prog); return 1; }
+ target_fps = atof(argv[++i]);
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--frameskip")) {
+ if (!has_val) { fprintf(stderr, "%s: --frameskip needs a value\n", prog); return 1; }
+ frameskip = atoi(argv[++i]);
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--sixel")) {
sixel = true;
- if (i + 1 < argc && argv[i+1][0] != '-') sixel_scale = atoi(argv[++i]);
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--uncapped") || !strcmp(argv[i], "--turbo")) {
+ if (has_val) sixel_scale = atoi(argv[++i]);
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--chrome")) {
+ chrome = true;
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--palette")) {
+ palette = has_val ? argv[++i] : "dmg";
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--green")) {
+ palette = "dmg";
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--uncapped") || !strcmp(a, "--turbo")) {
target_fps = 0;
- } else if (!strcmp(argv[i], "--headless")) {
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--headless")) {
headless = true;
+ } else if (!strcmp(a, "--bios") || !strcmp(a, "--boot")) {
+ bios_path = has_val ? argv[++i] : "bios/gbc_bios.bin";
+ } else {
+ fprintf(stderr, "%s: unknown option '%s'\n\n", prog, a);
+ print_usage(stderr, prog);
+ return 1;
}
}
if (frameskip < 0) frameskip = 0;
GB *gb = calloc(1, sizeof(GB));
if (cart_load(&gb->cart, rom) != 0) { free(gb); return 1; }
+ if (bios_path && gb_load_bootrom(gb, bios_path) != 0) {
+ cart_free(&gb->cart); free(gb); return 1;
+ }
gb_reset(gb);
+ if (bios_path)
+ fprintf(stderr, "booting through BIOS: %s\n", bios_path);
+
+ // Display/capture options that also affect screenshots and video recording,
+ // so set them before the --shot / recording paths. (--sixel below is purely
+ // a live-display concern.)
+ if (palette) render_set_palette(palette);
+ if (chrome) render_set_chrome(true);
if (test) {
gb->serial_log = true;
@@ -161,11 +240,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
}
if (raw_tty) tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &saved_tio);
if (shot_frames >= 0) { // --headless --shot FILE: dump final LCD
+ int cw, ch; const u8 *cap = render_capture_frame(gb, &cw, &ch);
FILE *pf = fopen(shot_path, "wb");
- fprintf(pf, "P6\n%d %d\n255\n", SCREEN_W, SCREEN_H);
- for (int y = 0; y < SCREEN_H; y++)
- for (int x = 0; x < SCREEN_W; x++)
- fwrite(gb->ppu.fb[y][x], 1, 3, pf);
+ fprintf(pf, "P6\n%d %d\n255\n", cw, ch);
+ fwrite(cap, 1, (size_t)cw * ch * 3, pf);
fclose(pf);
}
cart_free(&gb->cart); free(gb); return 0;
@@ -173,11 +251,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
if (shot_frames >= 0) {
for (int f = 0; f < shot_frames; f++) run_frame(gb);
+ int cw, ch; const u8 *cap = render_capture_frame(gb, &cw, &ch);
FILE *pf = fopen(shot_path, "wb");
- fprintf(pf, "P6\n%d %d\n255\n", SCREEN_W, SCREEN_H);
- for (int y = 0; y < SCREEN_H; y++)
- for (int x = 0; x < SCREEN_W; x++)
- fwrite(gb->ppu.fb[y][x], 1, 3, pf);
+ fprintf(pf, "P6\n%d %d\n255\n", cw, ch);
+ fwrite(cap, 1, (size_t)cw * ch * 3, pf);
fclose(pf);
fprintf(stderr, "wrote %s after %d frames\n", shot_path, shot_frames);
cart_free(&gb->cart); free(gb); return 0;
@@ -198,6 +275,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
sock_path);
}
if (sixel) render_set_sixel(true, sixel_scale);
+ if (chrome && !sixel)
+ fprintf(stderr, "note: --chrome only affects live display in --sixel mode "
+ "(it still applies to --shot / recordings)\n");
term_init();
// The emulator always advances every GB frame at the paced native rate so