A new release of the
GNU 8085
simulator is out. This is a full-featured simulator, assembler, and
debugger for the Intel 8085 processor with a GNOME-based GUI. The latest
version includes lots of bug
fixes and new features. Linux binaries are available and source is
provided for other POSIX compliant operating systems. The GNU 8085
simulator is Free
Software licensed under the GNU GPL.
Wow, do people still develop for the 8085? It was before my time, it
will live after my time. It like lives the life span of a turtle.
Heck I remember building one of my first robots using a 8085 CPU.
This was because some guy had just came out with a book on using the
8085 to build a intelligent learning robot. Like usual, I got sucked
into another book that had stuff that didn't work.
It was tough way back then in the "Stoneage".
You had to write your program, compile it, and assemble it. Then take
the binary file and load it into a Eprom burner unit. Next you'd burn
your Eprom and then plug the Eprom into the PCB on the robot.
Naturally, this is a real drag when you do a lot of iterations or "what
if I did this scenarios", and such. I had a big pile of Eproms that I
used. Some under the UV eraser, some in the blank ready to use pile,
and some waiting to be erased. At the time this was OK, nowadays it
really sucks.
As a matter of fact, I still have the old 8085 based robot, but it had
to be rebuilt a few years ago as the motors had died (appeared to have
rusted bearings that locked up), and may have caused the CPU board to
die, who knows. It now is setup using a modern Basic Stamp for my son
to play with. I don't even have a Eprom burner anymore to program those
kinds of old style Eproms anyway.