The Axolotl 8-bit Computer

The user interface is implemented using dear Imgui and LWJGL
Custom programs can be loaded into the computer, and the result can be displayed on the terminal!
The memory of the computer can be accessed and modified at all time!

Inspiration

Old technology always had a certain place in our hearts. It is facinating to see such old and simple machines produce such complex results. That's why we wanted to create our own emulator of an 8-bit computer: to learn and explore this topic and also to make it accessible to others through this learning software.

What it does

It simulates the core features of an 8-bit computer. We can write low-level programs in assembly to get executed on the emulator. It also displays a terminal out to show the results of the program, as well as a window on the actual memory state throughout the program.

How we built it

Using Java, Imgui and LWJGL.

Challenges we ran into

The custom design of the computer was quite challenging to get to, as we were trying to keep the project reasonable yet engaging. Getting information on how 8-bit computers work and understanding that in less than a day also proved to be hard.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud to present an actual working 8-bit computer emulator that can run custom code written for it.

What we learned

We learned how to design a computer from scratch, as well as how assembly works and can be used to produce a wide variety of outputs.

What's next for Axolotl

Axolotl can be improved by adding more modules to it, like audio and a more complex gpu. Ultimately, it could become a full-fledged computer in itself, capable of any prowess anynormal computer can accomplish