Altirra vs Gearlynx

Altirra is a Windows emulator for 8-bit Atari computers, covering the Atari 400/800, 1200XL, 600/800XL, 130XE, XEGS and 5200. It provides cycle-exact handling of documented hardware and models undocumented behavior, including DMA timing and undocumented 6502 instructions. Supported files include ATR, ATX, ATZ, DCM, XFD, PRO, ARC, BAS, ROM, BIN, A52, CAS and SAP. Reimplemented operating-system, BASIC and handler ROMs are included, while real Atari ROM images can be supplied for compatibility. The emulator models memory and cartridge expansions, PBI devices, modems and 65C02/65C816 accelerators. Disk options include accelerated loading, realistic timing, sounds and drive CPU emulation. Its debugger offers source stepping, breakpoints, watchpoints, history and profiling. Recording, a cheat trainer, disk browsing and text copy/paste are also included. Altirra is free under GPL version 2 for Windows 7 or later.

Gearlynx is a free, open-source Atari Lynx emulator and debugger written in C++. It supports the commercial Lynx catalog and most homebrew and demo software, with Lynx I or Lynx II emulation selectable. Supported ROM formats include lnx, lyx, o, bin, and zip, including compressed and homebrew files. Gaming tools include save states with previews, rewind, run-ahead to reduce input latency, audio emulation, VGM recording, and EEPROM and NVRAM save files. ComLynx multiplayer connects up to eight emulator instances on one computer. The debugger provides disassembly, CPU and memory breakpoints, debug symbols, memory editing and search, hardware register views, and cartridge and video inspectors. An embedded MCP server supports AI-assisted debugging, with execution controls, memory inspection, breakpoints, screenshots, and rewind over STDIO or HTTP. Standalone builds are listed for Windows, Linux, BSD, and macOS; libretro includes Android and iOS. Gearlynx requires a BIOS. Concurrent HTTP clients control the same emulator instance and may interfere with one another.