en:emulators:introduction []

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  <div class="terminal-title-big">A:\> PCW_EMULATORS_HISTORY.LOG</div>

  <!-- SECTION 1: THE CHALLENGE -->
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    <div class="pcw-section-title">The Challenge of Emulating the Amstrad PCW</div>
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      <p><strong>The Challenge of Emulating the Amstrad PCW</strong></p>
      <p>Emulating the Amstrad PCW (Personal Computer Word-processor) constitutes a specialized niche within computing preservation. Unlike contemporary home computers, the PCW was not designed as a video game console, but as an integrated office tool, which imposes unique particularities for emulator developers:</p>
      
      <ul style="list-style-type: square; margin-left: 20px;">
        <li><strong>Absence of System ROM:</strong> The PCW is a "virgin" machine upon power-up; it does not possess an operating system in ROM. Everything, from the character set to the operating system (CP/M Plus or LocoScript), must be loaded from the disk drive (Drive A:). Therefore, a PCW emulator must not only replicate the Z80 processor but also manage the <strong>uPD765A</strong> floppy disk controller with extreme precision to even be able to boot.</li>
        <br>
        <li><strong>Unique Video Architecture:</strong> Unlike the Amstrad CPC, the PCW uses a video system based on "planes" and memory management where video can be located anywhere in the upper RAM. Furthermore, the 720x256 pixel resolution (monochrome) requires specific treatment for correct display on modern monitors.</li>
        <br>
        <li><strong>Professional Preservation Philosophy:</strong> While other emulators prioritize joystick support and colors, PCW emulators have historically focused their efforts on the fidelity of office peripherals: emulation of dot-matrix printers, serial ports for modems, and file management under the <strong>CP/M</strong> standard.</li>
      </ul>

      <p>From the first developments in the mid-90s to today's cycle-exact solutions, emulation has been the vital bridge to recover documents created in <strong>LocoScript</strong> and execute the vast catalog of professional and leisure software of a machine that sold over 8 million units in Europe.</p>
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  <!-- SECTION 2: ECOSYSTEM -->
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    <div class="pcw-section-title">Amstrad PCW Emulator Ecosystem</div>
    
    <div class="terminal-text">
      <!-- JOYCE -->
      <p><strong><u>JOYCE (by John Elliott)</u></strong></p>
      <p>It is the dean of emulators and the knowledge base for all others.</p>
      <div class="pcw-index-tree" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Current status</u>:</strong> Actively maintained. John Elliott continues to update the emulation core and its support libraries (libdsk) for modern operating systems.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Versions</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>JOYCE:</strong> For the 8000/9000 range.</span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>ANNE:</strong> For the PcW16.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Information points</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Official Website:</strong> Seasip - JOYCE Project: Main repository with source code, binaries for Windows/Linux, and exhaustive technical documentation on PCW hardware. <a href="https://seasip.info" target="_blank" class="retro-link">Web</a></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Downloads:</strong> Available in source and compiled format for Windows 10/11 and Linux distributions.</span>
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      <hr class="pcw-hr">

      <!-- CP/M BOX -->
      <p><strong><u>CP/M Box (by Habisoft)</u></strong></p>
      <p>Currently considered the most user-friendly and accurate emulator for Spanish-speaking and international users.</p>
      <div class="pcw-index-tree" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Current status</u>:</strong> Consolidated stable version, widely used for new software development.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Features</u>:</strong> Intuitive graphical interface, full support for disk formats, and emulation of Spanish peripherals (such as local memory expansion kits).</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Information points</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Official Website:</strong> Habisoft - CP/M Box: Includes manuals in Spanish and English and technical details on the emulation of different disk controllers. <a href="https://habisoft.com" target="_blank" class="retro-link">Web</a></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Downloads:</strong> Binaries for Windows and a technical version for mobile devices.</span>
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      <hr class="pcw-hr">

      <!-- RVM -->
      <p><strong><u>Retro Virtual Machine - RVM (by Juan Carlos González Amestoy)</u></strong></p>
      <p>Originally focused on the CPC and Spectrum, its PCW support is today one of the most visually advanced.</p>
      <div class="pcw-index-tree" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Current status</u>:</strong> Version 2.1.x / 3.0 (under active development/beta in 2026).</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Strengths</u>:</strong> High-end emulation with CRT monitor filters (green/white phosphor), real floppy drive sound, and an integrated user interface that facilitates software library management.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Information points</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Official Website:</strong> Retro Virtual Machine: Multiplatform portal (Windows, macOS, Linux). <a href="https://retrovirtualmachine.org" target="_blank" class="retro-link">Web</a></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Community:</strong> Very active on social networks and Spanish preservation forums.</span>
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      <hr class="pcw-hr">

      <!-- MAME -->
      <p><strong><u>MAME (Multi-purpose Adventure Machine Emulator)</u></strong></p>
      <p>Although it is a multi-system emulator, its PCW driver is "cycle-exact" and very rigorous.</p>
      <div class="pcw-index-tree" style="margin-bottom: 20px;">
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Current status</u>:</strong> Monthly updates (Version 0.2xx).</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Features</u>:</strong> Ideal for researchers looking to see how chips (Z80, uPD765, Gate Array) interact at the logical signal level.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Information points</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Official Website:</strong> Mamedev.org: It is the standard for hardware documentation at the silicon level. <a href="https://mamedev.org" target="_blank" class="retro-link">Web</a></span>
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      <hr class="pcw-hr">

      <!-- ZEsarUX -->
      <p><strong><u>ZEsarUX (by César Hernández Bañó)</u></strong></p>
      <p>A Spanish-origin multiplatform emulator that stands out for its "all-terrain" capability and powerful debugging environment.</p>
      <div class="pcw-index-tree">
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Current status</u>:</strong> Very active maintenance (Version 12.x in 2026). PCW support has consolidated as one of the most reliable for non-Windows systems.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Features</u>:</strong> Includes the "ZX Desktop" interface, precise emulation of the uPD765 disk controller, and visual tools like "Visual Floppy" to monitor drive activity.</span>
        <span class="index-subitem"><strong><u>Information points</u>:</strong></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Official Website:</strong> ZEsarUX GitHub Repository: Contains source code, stable versions, and the changelog documenting the evolution of PCW emulation. <a href="https://github.com" target="_blank" class="retro-link">Web</a></span>
        <span style="margin-left: 60px; display: block;">• <strong>Downloads:</strong> Available for a wide variety of systems: Windows, Linux (with special optimization for Raspberry Pi), macOS, FreeBSD, and Haiku OS.</span>
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  <!-- FINAL NOTE -->
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      <p><strong>Note:</strong> Unlike CPC emulators, PCW ones must manage the .<strong>DSK</strong> disk format specifically due to the track structure of CP/M Plus and the complete absence of an integrated system ROM (the PCW loads everything from the boot disk).</p>
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