Fuse
The Free Unix Spectrum Emulator
The accurate, cross-platform ZX Spectrum emulator that handles the full Spectrum range and its many peripherals.
Fuse (Free Unix Spectrum Emulator) is a highly accurate ZX Spectrum emulator originally developed for Unix-like systems but now available across platforms. It emulates the entire Spectrum family from the 16K to the +3, handles the notorious contended memory timing, and supports a wide range of peripherals and file formats.
Fast facts
- Developer: Philip Kendall and others
- First release: 1999
- Systems: ZX Spectrum 16K through +3
- Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS, others
- Licence: GPL
Spectrum Models
Fuse emulates:
| Model | Notes |
|---|---|
| 16K/48K | Original rubber-key |
| 128K | AY sound chip |
| +2 | Amstrad version |
| +2A/+3 | Disk-based models |
| Timex variants | TC2048, TS2068 |
| Pentagon/Scorpion | Russian clones |
Accuracy Features
Fuse handles Spectrum quirks:
- Contended memory - ULA steals CPU cycles
- Floating bus - Some games depend on it
- Border effects - Timing-critical graphics
- Snow effect - I register video glitch
File Format Support
| Format | Type |
|---|---|
| .tap | Tape files |
| .tzx | Tape with protection |
| .sna | Snapshot |
| .z80 | Snapshot (compressed) |
| .dsk | +3 disk images |
| .scl/.trd | TR-DOS disks |
Peripheral Emulation
Fuse supports:
- Kempston joystick
- Interface 1/Microdrive
- Multiface
- DivIDE/DivMMC
- Various disk interfaces
- Printer
Debugger
Development features:
- Breakpoints
- Memory viewer
- Disassembler
- Profiler
- Poke finder
Related tools
The Fuse ecosystem:
- fuse-utils - Tape/snapshot tools
- libspectrum - Format library
- spectaculator - Windows alternative