ElectrEm

ElectrEm is a software emulator that aims to replicate the functions of the Acorn Electron; an 8bit microcomputer that was released in the UK in 1983 and was once the fourth most popular device on the market. Despite being marketed as compatible with the BBC Micro, the only shared component between the two computers is the 6502 CPU. Nonetheless, ElectrEm is able to facilitate compatibility between the two devices through firmware interfaces to graphics mode setting, sound generation, and keyboard/joystick input.

While some programs designed specifically for the Electron hardware may not be compatible with the BBC, these instances are relatively rare. However, the ElectrEm is able to accommodate the variable bus speed that the Electron is subject to, which can cause issues when running on the BBC. Developing an emulation based on an existing BBC emulator or other 6502 emulation code is not feasible due to the impracticality of accommodating these differences.

ElectrEm's developers were keen to prioritize ease-of-use, which had not been commonly seen in the Acorn emulation community previously. Consequently, users can simply direct ElectrEm towards a tape or disc image and it will automatically configure the emulated hardware accordingly. This streamlined process ensures that users can enjoy a seamless experience when launching and using the software.