CHIP-8

An Interpreted programming language.

Concepts

• CHIP-8 ROM
• CHIP-8 Font
• CHIP-8 Display
• CHIP-8 Stack
• CHIP-8 Timer
• 16 Key Keypad
• Fetch Decode Execute
• CHIP-8 Registers
• CHIP-8 Instructions
• CHIP-8 Test Suite

Specifications

• Memory: 4KB (4096 bytes) of RAM
• Display: 64 x 32 pixels, monochrome (black and white)
• A PC register
• A Index Register I
• A Stack for 16-bit addresses
• A 8-bit delay timer decremented at rate of 60 Hz until it reaches 0
• A 8-bit sound timer that functions as delay timer, but which also gives a beeping sound so long as its not 0
• 16 16-bit general purpose variable registers:
  • V0
  • V1
  • …
  • VF - also used as Carry Flag register
  • I - instruction register
• Font characters represented as Bitmap 4px by 5px tall
• Speed of ~ 700 instructions per second is natural

References

• https://tobiasvl.github.io/blog/write-a-chip-8-emulator/