Getting Started with NES Development

Set up your tools for NES 6502 assembly programming.

What You Need

To develop for the NES, you need two things: a way to compile your code, and an emulator to run it.

⚙️ Dev Toolchain

Our Docker image includes ca65 assembler and ld65 linker from the cc65 suite.

Install

docker pull code198x/nintendo-entertainment-system

Compile

docker run --rm -v "$(pwd)":/code -w /code \
  code198x/nintendo-entertainment-system bash -c \
  "ca65 game.asm -o game.o && ld65 -C nes.cfg game.o -o game.nes"

NES builds require a linker config file (nes.cfg) — each lesson includes one.

🖥️ Emulator

Install FCEUX natively for the best experience.

macOS

brew install fceux

Linux

sudo apt install fceux

Windows — Download from fceux.com

Run

fceux game.nes

Ready to Build

Your tools are set up. Time to write some code.

Start with Assembly →