EightyOne is a Windows emulator for Sinclair ZX home computers and their clones, including ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models. It emulates the ZX80 and ZX81 display mechanisms with clock accuracy and supports add-on interfaces for storage devices, high-resolution graphics, custom character sets, sound, and colour. The emulator includes debugger facilities, with release notes describing debug-screen controls and execution breakpoints. BASIC tools can view and save programs as bitmap or text and load listings from text files. Supported media includes tape and disk images, snapshots, ZIP-compressed media, Microdrive cartridges, and several IDE or CompactFlash interfaces. Version 1.41 adds a full-screen option and emulation for speech interfaces; its release notes also list sound options, joystick support, and floppy-image writing and protection features. The project is open source under GPLv2. Its creator is no longer actively developing the emulator and made the code available for others to extend.
Who it is for
EightyOne is for Windows users interested in emulating Sinclair ZX computers and their clones, including those who want debugger and BASIC-program tools.
What is good
- Emulates ZX80, ZX81, and ZX Spectrum models
- Includes debugger facilities and execution breakpoints
- Supports tape, disk, snapshot, and ZIP media
- Open source under GPLv2
What to know first
- Windows is the listed platform
- Creator is no longer actively developing it
Verdict
EightyOne combines Sinclair ZX emulation with debugging, BASIC tools, and support for varied peripherals and media. Its creator is no longer actively developing it, though the code was made open source for others to extend.
Get started with EightyOne
- Open the EightyOne GitHub repository.
- Use its Windows download route.
- Consult the repository's documentation and examples as needed.
Questions about EightyOne
Is EightyOne free?
Yes. Its pricing model is free, with a free plan.
Which computers does it emulate?
It emulates Sinclair ZX home computers and clones, primarily the ZX80 and ZX81, as well as ZX Spectrum models.
Which operating system does it support?
Windows is the listed platform, and the project provides Windows downloads.
Is EightyOne open source?
Yes. The project is listed under the GNU General Public License version 2.0 (GPLv2).
What media and peripherals does it support?
Listed support includes tape and disk images, snapshots, ZIP-compressed media, Microdrive cartridges, IDE or CompactFlash interfaces, joysticks, sound and speech interfaces, and MIDI output.
Is it still actively developed by its creator?
No. The project says its creator is no longer actively developing it and made the code open source for others to extend.
Compared on ZX spectrum emulators
- Free plan
- Yes
- Host platforms
- Windows
- Snapshot formats
- .Z80
- Built-in debugger
- Yes
- Open source
- Yes
- Peripheral support
- Joysticks (Kempston, Fuller, Sinclair 1, Sinclair 2, Cursor, Boldfield); floppy drives; microdrives; sound and speech interfaces; MIDI output
