Emulators

Fuse

The Free Unix Spectrum Emulator

The accurate, cross-platform ZX Spectrum emulator that handles the full Spectrum range and its many peripherals.

sinclair-zx-spectrum emulatorspectrumunixaccuracy 1999

Overview

Fuse (Free Unix Spectrum Emulator) is a highly accurate ZX Spectrum emulator originally developed for Unix-like systems but now available across platforms. It emulates the entire Spectrum family from the 16K to the +3, handles the notorious contended memory timing, and supports a wide range of peripherals and file formats.

Fast Facts

  • Developer: Philip Kendall and others
  • First release: 1999
  • Systems: ZX Spectrum 16K through +3
  • Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, others
  • Licence: GPL

Spectrum Models

Fuse emulates:

ModelNotes
16K/48KOriginal rubber-key
128KAY sound chip
+2Amstrad version
+2A/+3Disk-based models
Timex variantsTC2048, TS2068
Pentagon/ScorpionRussian clones

Accuracy Features

Fuse handles Spectrum quirks:

  • Contended memory - ULA steals CPU cycles
  • Floating bus - Some games depend on it
  • Border effects - Timing-critical graphics
  • Snow effect - I register video glitch

File Format Support

FormatType
.tapTape files
.tzxTape with protection
.snaSnapshot
.z80Snapshot (compressed)
.dsk+3 disk images
.scl/.trdTR-DOS disks

Peripheral Emulation

Fuse supports:

  • Kempston joystick
  • Interface 1/Microdrive
  • Multiface
  • DivIDE/DivMMC
  • Various disk interfaces
  • Printer

Debugger

Development features:

  • Breakpoints
  • Memory viewer
  • Disassembler
  • Profiler
  • Poke finder

The Fuse ecosystem:

  • fuse-utils - Tape/snapshot tools
  • libspectrum - Format library
  • spectaculator - Windows alternative

See Also