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SMS

Free plan Linux

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SMS's own site

What SMS is

SMS is a free Sega Master System emulator for Linux, written in Go and published as a public GitHub repository under the MIT license. It provides complete Zilog Z80 emulation and is described by its project as concurrent. Graphics features include an SDL backend, a 2x scaler, and fullscreen support. The README maps arrow keys to joypad directions, X to Fire 1, and Z to Fire 2. It also provides a Go installation command and an example for launching a Sega Master System ROM. Sound support is listed as a todo, and the project also lists writing more tests as unfinished work. The free and open-source plan is listed as free. Users can inspect the public source and use it under the stated license. Its listed platform is Linux, and its documented setup and controls center on running a ROM with the Go-based emulator.

Who it suits

SMS suits Linux users looking for a free, open-source Sega Master System emulator. It may also interest Go users who want to inspect the project’s public source under its MIT license.

What it does well

  • Free and open source under the MIT license.
  • Complete Zilog Z80 emulation.
  • SDL graphics backend, 2x scaler, and fullscreen support.
  • README includes installation and ROM launch examples.

What to know first

  • Sound support remains a todo.
  • The project lists writing more tests as a todo.
  • Linux is the only listed platform.

Plans

PlanBilled and limitsPrice
Free and open sourceMIT licensed · install and run with GoFree

As github.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

  1. Open the public GitHub repository.
  2. Install SMS using the Go command in the README.
  3. Launch a Sega Master System ROM using the documented command example.
  4. Use the arrow keys for joypad directions, X for Fire 1 and Z for Fire 2.

Verdict

SMS provides documented Sega Master System emulation and graphics features in a free Linux project. Sound support is unfinished, and the project lists more tests as a todo.

Questions

How much does SMS cost?

The free and open-source plan is listed as free.

Which operating system does SMS support?

Linux is the listed platform.

Is SMS open source?

Yes. The source is public on GitHub, and the repository describes the project as MIT licensed.

What controls does SMS use?

Arrow keys control joypad directions, X maps to Fire 1 and Z maps to Fire 2.

Does SMS support sound?

The project lists sound support as a todo.

How do I install and run SMS?

The README provides a Go installation command and an example of launching a ROM with `./sms`.

Facts from SMS's own pages

Concurrency
The project lists concurrency as a feature. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Controls
Arrow keys control joypad directions, X maps to Fire 1, and Z maps to Fire 2. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Display
The project lists a 2x scaler and fullscreen support. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Emulation
It provides complete Zilog Z80 emulation. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Graphics
It has an SDL backend, a 2x scaler, and fullscreen support. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Graphics backend
The project lists an SDL backend. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Input
The README maps the arrow keys to joypad directions, X to Fire 1, and Z to Fire 2. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Installation
The quick-start instructions use `go get -v github.com/rafaelmdcarneiro/sms_go/` to install SMS. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Language
SMS is written in Go. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
License
The repository describes SMS as free and open source under the MIT license. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Notable limitation
The README lists sound support as a todo item. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Processor emulation
The listed features include complete Zilog Z80 emulation. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Product
SMS is a free and open-source Sega Master System emulator written in Go. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Project status
The README lists writing more tests as a todo item. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
SMS is a Sega Master System emulator. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Run a game
The quick-start example launches the `roms/Sonic The Hedgehog (USA, Europe).sms` file with `./sms`. · github.com, 9 Oct 2026
Sound
The project lists sound support as a todo. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Source availability
The repository is public on GitHub. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026
Testing
The project lists writing more tests as a todo. · github.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where SMS stands on Freedom251

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