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Platform: Apple II

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cowarlydragon edited this page May 7, 2024 · 15 revisions

Apple II

Note that keyboard layouts don't match modern 101-key keyboards so games like Bolo that need a specific layout for keys need remapping. The Apple2 has a different layout than the IIe and IIc and II+

Running software:

  • most software/games should autoboot / bootloader if it is "placed in the disk drive" and the emulator boots.
  • CATALOG or CAT command lists disk contents
  • BRUN <name_of_program> will run compiled programs from the > prompt
  • RUN <name_of_program> will run a BASIC program from the > prompt
  • Asterisk prompt: ... I forget what this is, usually it happens in the middle of an error in a binary program

Transferring / extracting files to/from disk images:

  • AppleCommander I have not tried this, but it is Java so it should be cross-platform

Blank NIB and System Disks

File formats:

  • 5.25" floppy formats: .dsk .do .woz .nib
    • dsk and do: 140KB DOS-ordered images
    • po: 140KB ProDOS-ordered images
    • nib: 140KB Nibble (DOS ordered) images
    • woz: is supposed to address various copy protection schemes WOZ Disk Images
  • 3.5" floppy formats:
    • 2mg and 2img: 800KB ProDOS ordered 3
  • hard drive formats: hdv, po, chm
    • hdv: 32MB ApplePC Hard Disk image
    • chm: a widely used compressed hard drive and disk image format, particularly by MAME
  • Cassette formats:
    • wav: MAME can allegedly use this. A cassette is an audio format so the "data" is an audio stream.

Disk swapping is a particular annoyance, there's lots of dual-sided and multidisk games on AppleII.

Emulator: LinApple aka LinAppleII

  • supported formats: nib, dsk, (others not yet tested)
  • Installed from: I had to build this...
  • BIOS: not needed I think
  • CLI examples:
    • dsk file: <path_to_linapple_binary> --autoboot --d1 <path_to_dsk_file>

Emulator: MAME-standalone

  • supported formats:
    • 5.25 floppies: dsk, do, woz, nib (not tested)
    • 3.5 floppies: not sure, maybe 2mg / po?
    • Hard Drive: chm (not tested), hdv, po
    • run this for current info: <path_to_MAME> apple2e -listmedia
  • Installed from: as part of MAME flatpak install and setup, see MAME platform notes
  • BIOS: I needed a complete MAME romset, around 0.265
  • CLI examples:
    • dsk file: <path_to_MAME> apple2e -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -flop1 <path_to_dsk_file>
    • hdv file: <path_to_MAME> apple2ee -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -ramsize 8M -sl7 scsi -noautosave -hard1 <path_to_hdv_file>
    • hdv iigs: <path_to_MAME> apple2gs -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -ramsize 8M -sl7 scsi -noautosave -hard1 <path_to_hdv_file>
  • Running commands:
    • make sure to toggle SCROLL_LOCK on your keyboard to change "focus"
  • Disk Swap:
    • disk swap using Tab when you don't have SCROLL_LOCK "focus". Sometimes you need to toggle the focus once or twice before TAB brings up the menu
    • disk swap UI can be a bit messed up sometimes, but often it is better than retroarch-mame
    • note that zips act as "virtual directories"

Emulator: MAME-retroarch

  • supported formats:
    • 5.25 floppies: dsk, do, woz, nib
    • 3.5 floppies: not sure, maybe 2mg / po?
    • Hard Drive: chm (not tested), hdv, po
    • run this for current info:
      • <path_to_retroarch> -L <path_to_retroarch_MAME_core> 'apple2e -listmedia'
  • Installed from: as part of Retroarch install and setup, see Retroarch platform notes
  • BIOS: I needed a complete MAME romset, around 0.265
  • CLI examples:
    • dsk file: <path_to_retroarch> -L <path_to_retroarch_MAME_core> 'apple2e -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -flop1 <path_to_dsk_file> '
    • hdv file: <path_to_retroarch> -L <path_to_retroarch_MAME_core.so> 'apple2ee -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -ramsize 8M -sl7 scsi -noautosave -hard1 <path_to_hdv_file> '
    • hdv iigs: <path_to_retroarch> -L <path_to_retroarch_MAME_core.so> 'apple2gs -rp <path_to_MAME_roms_dir> -ramsize 8M -sl7 scsi -noautosave -hard1 <path_to_hdv_file> '
  • Running commands:
    • make sure to toggle SCROLL_LOCK on your keyboard to change "focus"
  • Disk Swap:
    • disk swap using Tab when you don't have SCROLL_LOCK "focus". Sometimes you need to toggle the focus once or twice before TAB brings up the menu
    • disk swap UI can be a bit messed up sometimes
    • note that zips act as "virtual directories"

There currently is NOT a retroarch core specifically for the AppleII or GS, just the overall umbrella of the MAME core.

Emulators "TODO":

  • special forks of linapple
  • IIGS emulators like Kegs
  • EPPLE ][
  • microm8
  • WinAppleII via WINE, more
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