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SPECIFICTION
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XRoar

6809.org.uk

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Spec score 7.4 #42 of 54 in Multi-System Emulators

What it is

XRoar is a free emulator for Dragon, Tandy Colour Computer, Tandy MC-10, and related 8-bit systems. Supported machines include Dragon 32/64/200-E, Tandy CoCo 1/2/3, MC-10, and Matra & Hachette Alice 4K. It runs on Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with XRoar Online available in a browser. The emulator reads and writes cassette, floppy disk, and block-device images, and supports machine snapshots. Emulated hardware includes floppy controllers, sound cartridges, Glenside IDE, and several RAM expansions. Video options include PAL or NTSC emulation and composite video simulation, with multiple sound drivers. A GDB remote target supports interactive debugging, though 6803 debugging is not implemented. The Becker port can communicate with pyDriveWire or Drivewire 4. In the browser version, users can fetch cassette, floppy, and hard disk images from the web or upload local files, but its sandbox keeps accessed files temporarily in memory rather than working transparently with local files. Firmware ROM images are required for useful emulation, and floppy write-back is enabled by default. XRoar is GPL version 3 or later software and comes without warranty.

Spec sheet

Purpose
XRoar emulates Dragon, Tandy Colour Computer, Tandy MC-10 and similar 8-bit computers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Platforms
The maker provides Windows and Mac OS X binaries, describes Linux source builds, and offers a browser version compiled to WebAssembly.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Integrations
The Becker port supports communication with pyDriveWire or Drivewire 4.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Debugging
XRoar includes a GDB remote target for interactive debugging, with 6803 debugging not implemented yet.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Disk write behavior
Floppy disk write-back is enabled by default, so changed images may overwrite the on-disk file when ejected or when XRoar quits.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Emulated systems
Supported systems include Dragon 32/64/200-E, Tandy CoCo 1/2/3, MC-10 and Matra & Hachette Alice 4K.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Hardware emulation
Supported hardware includes floppy controller and sound cartridges, Glenside IDE, and several RAM expansions.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
License and warranty
XRoar is free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later and is supplied without warranty.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Prerequisite
Firmware ROM images are required to usefully run the emulator.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Storage
It reads and writes cassette, floppy disk and block device images, and supports machine snapshots.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Video and audio
Features include PAL or NTSC emulation, composite video simulation and multiple sound drivers.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Web limitation
XRoar Online runs in a sandbox; files it accesses are held ephemerally in memory, so it does not transparently work on local files.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk
Web version
XRoar Online runs in a browser and can fetch cassette, floppy and hard disk images from the web or accept local file uploads.Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk

Plans and prices

XRoar Free Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later · no warranty stated Read 8 Oct 2026 · 6809.org.uk

Every XRoar plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free software under GNU GPL version 3 or later
  • Supports several Dragon and Tandy computer models
  • Reads and writes cassette, floppy, and block-device images
  • Offers PAL or NTSC emulation and multiple sound drivers

Limits

  • Firmware ROM images are required for useful emulation
  • Browser sandbox does not transparently access local files
  • Floppy write-back is enabled by default
  • 6803 debugging is not implemented

Who it suits

XRoar suits people who want to emulate the listed 8-bit computers on desktop, Android, or in a browser. It also offers file-image handling and a GDB remote target for interactive debugging.

Verdict

XRoar offers broad 8-bit system and hardware emulation, including a browser edition. Users should account for the required ROM images and default floppy write-back behavior.

Where Specifiction places it

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