c64js vs Frodo
c64js
github.comFrodo
frodo.cebix.netSide by side
| Figure | c64js | Frodo |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Commodore 64 Emulators | 7.2 (#15) | 8.7 (#1) |
| License | The code and documentation are released under the MIT license. | The repository lists Frodo under the GPL-2.0 license. |
| Maker | The project copyright and GitHub profile identify Mikael Borgbrant; the profile lists Stockholm, Sweden. | The maker's home page identifies him as Christian Bauer and describes him as a physicist who turned his computer hobby into his career. |
| Purpose | c64js is an early Commodore 64 emulator written from scratch in JavaScript. | Frodo is a portable Commodore 64 emulator focused on reproducing special graphical effects possible on the C64. |
Plans
In their own words
Frodo
Frodo is a free, portable Commodore 64 emulator for Linux, macOS, and Windows. It focuses on reproducing special graphical effects from the C64 and supports disk and tape software, many game cartridges, and formats including D64, G64, T64, TAP, X64, and LYNX. It offers a cycle-exact regular mode and Frodo Lite, a less compatible version intended to run better on slower machines. The official site lists V4.5, which adds Datasette TAP emulation and support for banked cartridges including Ocean, Fun Play, Power Play, Super Games, and Simons' BASIC. TAP emulation is unavailable in Frodo Lite. V4.5 can auto-start disk and tape images, cartridges, and C64 BASIC program files from the command line. Frodo can detect connected controllers for C64 joystick ports and map additional buttons to C64 keys. Display settings include windowed or fullscreen mode and an initial window size. The V4.5 snapshot format changed, so it cannot read snapshots from earlier versions. Frodo is listed under GPL-2.0.