The 6502 uses a 16-bit address bus, allowing it to address 64 KB of memory.
To start, you must define the data structures representing the CPU's internal state. Description (Program Counter) Points to the next instruction in memory. A (Accumulator) Used for all arithmetic and logic. X & Y (Index) Used for addressing offsets and loops. S (Stack Pointer) 6502-emulator
Locations where the CPU looks for jump addresses when it resets or receives a signal. 2. The Emulation Loop The core of your emulator is a "Fetch-Decode-Execute" loop: Emulating a CPU in C++ (6502) The 6502 uses a 16-bit address bus, allowing
Special high-speed memory area used like extra registers. Stack ($0100–$01FF): Fixed location for the system stack. A (Accumulator) Used for all arithmetic and logic
Building a is a classic rite of passage for systems programmers. The MOS 6502 was the brain of iconic systems like the Apple II , Commodore 64 , and NES . Its simple architecture—featuring only 56 base instructions and 6 registers—makes it one of the best CPUs to emulate for learning purposes. 1. Architecture Basics
Holds the current stack location (usually at address $0100 ). (Status Register) Stores flags: Carry, Zero, Negative, Overflow, etc..