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ZX SPECTRUM

Britain's home computing revolution

CPU
Zilog Z80
Speed
3.5 MHz
RAM
48 KB
Graphics
ULA
Sound
Beeper

Why the ZX Spectrum?

The ZX Spectrum ignited Britain's home computing revolution. When Clive Sinclair launched it in 1982 at just £125, he put colour computing within reach of ordinary families. Teenagers who'd never touched a computer were suddenly writing games in their bedrooms — and some of them became millionaires before they turned twenty.

The Spectrum's famous limitations — its attribute-based colour system, single-channel beeper, and lack of hardware sprites — forced programmers to be ingenious. Learning to work within these constraints teaches problem-solving skills that transfer everywhere. The Z80 processor powers everything from arcade machines to embedded systems, and the Spectrum's vibrant community is still releasing new games and tools today.

Zero-config setup: docker pull ghcr.io/code198x/sinclair-zx-spectrum
Full setup guide →

Choose Your Path

Two independent paths to Spectrum game development. Sinclair BASIC teaches programming from scratch. Z80 assembly gives you full hardware control. Pick whichever suits you.