Aaron Ardiri has published Palm OS source code from the platform’s late-1990s and early-2000s gaming era on GitHub. The May 28, 2022 release spans 12 repositories containing nine named games, a Game Boy emulator library, graphics code and compiled binaries—making a sizeable collection of 25-year-old Palm OS tools available for study, preservation and possible porting.
What Aaron Ardiri released
RetroRGB reported the publication on May 28, 2022; Devtalk described the projects on June 15 as software originally developed more than 20 years earlier. The repositories cover nine game projects:
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- Phire (Fire!)
- Parashoot (Parachute)
- Oktopus (Octopus)
- Maryobros (Mario Bros)
- Lemmings
- Hoards of the Deep Realm (Lode Runner)
- Hexxagon (Ataxx)
- DKung (Donkey Kong – Dual Screen)
- DKJR (Donkey Kong Jr)
The release also includes a Game Boy emulator library and a graphics library. Source for Phire, Parashoot, Oktopus and DKJR was released for the VTech Helio PDA as well as Palm OS. The games came with compiled binaries, so owners of compatible hardware may be able to run the original builds rather than compiling them first.
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Lemmings has different licensing
The repositories do not use one universal open-source license. RetroRGB noted that Lemmings follows a different licensing arrangement, while the other titles have custom licenses. Anyone redistributing source, binaries or modified versions should read the license in the specific repository instead of assuming that publication on GitHub grants identical permissions across the collection.
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An eight-pack snapshot
The Lemmings repository was reported with eight level packs. That number describes the state of the repository at the time of the 2022 report; more packs were expected, so it should not be treated as a permanent total.
Why old Palm OS code is worth preserving
Palm OS handhelds operated with dramatically less memory and processing power than current phones. Code written for that environment exposes techniques that are increasingly hidden by modern layers: compact data structures, direct graphics routines and careful use of processor time. Making the source inspectable lets developers study how complete games and libraries were built under those constraints.
Ardiri framed the release as both preservation and an invitation to experiment. His announcement said:
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“Palm OS had a thriving gaming scene; with the likes of emulators and implementations/clones of classics such as LodeRunner, Lemmings, and the classic Game and Watch. written mainlyin C and optimizations in assembler — maybe these games will make their way to the various Arduino like micro-controllers out there; designed for low memory, low processing power environments they would port perfectly.”
The microcontroller idea is a suggestion, not a demonstrated port in the cited reports. Porting still requires adapting Palm-specific input, display, sound, timing and storage code, and each project’s license must permit the intended use.
Ways to run the classic Palm games on GitHub
There are three practical routes. They differ in authenticity, setup work, desktop portability and legal clarity.
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| Route | Authenticity | Setup effort | Portability | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Palm hardware | Highest: original display, controls and operating system | Requires a working compatible handheld, software transfer and often legacy cables or drivers | Low; tied to the hardware | Binary compatibility and license terms vary by game |
| POSE64 Palm OS Emulator | Emulates the original environment | Requires a compatible Palm OS ROM image and emulator configuration | Desktop-focused, native 64-bit build | Most listed device profiles are explicitly untested |
| Source port or modern reimplementation | Lowest unless carefully matched | Highest: code, build tools and platform-specific adaptation are required | Potentially broad, including small devices | Repository-specific licenses govern reuse and redistribution |
Using original hardware
Start with a Palm handheld that matches the game’s binary requirements, then transfer the compiled PRC or related database files using the device’s normal desktop connection. Keep a backup of the handheld before installing unfamiliar software. A binary that launches on one Palm OS release or screen size may not behave identically on another, so test on a spare device when possible.
Using POSE64 on a desktop
The POSE64 project describes itself as “A native 64-bit port of POSE 3.5, the original Palm OS Emulator from 2001!” Its README says it can boot Palm OS 2.0 through 4.1 ROMs. It provides device skins, session management, clipboard synchronization, Gremlins input testing, and PRC/PDB/PQA database management.
Profiles listed in the README include Palm Pilot, Palm III variants, Palm V and Vx, m100, m130, m500, m515 and Handspring Visor models, among others. The project warns that most of those profiles are untested. You must supply a legally obtained ROM image; the emulator itself does not make Palm firmware rights disappear.
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- Install a 64-bit POSE64 build for your desktop operating system.
- Obtain a compatible Palm OS 2.0–4.1 ROM image through a lawful means.
- Create a session and select a device profile close to the target game’s original hardware.
- Boot the ROM, then use POSE64’s database-management functions to import the game’s PRC or associated files.
- Run the game and adjust the emulated device profile if graphics, controls or timing are incorrect.
Transferring files with pilot-link
For Unix-like systems, the maintained pilot-link toolkit calls itself “The glue between your Palm and your computer.” Its pilot-xfer utility can back up and restore a handheld and install .prc applications. Additional tools handle contacts, memos, todos and photos. pilot-link is a separate synchronization project, not part of Ardiri’s 2022 repositories, but it can provide the bridge between a modern computer and original Palm hardware.
What readers should check before sharing or modifying code
- Read the license file in each repository; do not treat the nine games as one uniformly licensed package.
- Check whether the permission applies to source, compiled binaries, artwork, level data and derivative works separately.
- Keep attribution and notices when a license requires them.
- Do not assume an emulator ROM is included or freely redistributable.
- Document the target Palm OS version, screen size and hardware when publishing a port or bug report.
The preservation payoff
The release turns software that might otherwise remain trapped on aging handhelds into material that contemporary developers can inspect. It preserves examples of C and assembler optimization for low-resource systems, keeps recognizable games available to owners of surviving devices, and gives emulator authors and hobbyists a starting point for experimentation. It also makes the history of Palm gaming easier to verify: the code, binaries and platform assumptions are visible rather than reconstructed from screenshots or memories.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does publishing the repositories mean every game is open source under the same license?
No. Lemmings uses a different licensing arrangement, and the other projects have custom repository-level licenses. Review each project’s terms before modifying or redistributing it.
Can I run the games without a Palm handheld?
Yes, a Palm OS emulator such as POSE64 can boot compatible Palm OS 2.0–4.1 ROMs and manage PRC, PDB and PQA databases. You still need a legally obtained ROM image, and POSE64 warns that most device profiles are untested.
Is there already a microcontroller port?
The cited announcement proposes that the low-memory games could suit Arduino-like microcontrollers, but it does not document a completed port.
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