MAMEDEV Forum

I am just looking for documentation on writing drivers. PDF or video maybe. Things like: Do you print to the console to help debug. Is there a working step debugging setup I could try. Maybe a walk through? I found something around here about creating space invaders, but it appears it isn't finished. Just trying to learn more about MAME.

wismi wrote: ↑Mon Jul 29, 2024 11:18 pm I am just looking for documentation on writing drivers. PDF or video maybe. Things like: Do you print to the console to help debug. Is there a working step debugging setup I could try. Maybe a walk through? I found something around here about creating space invaders, but it appears it isn't finished. Just trying to learn more about MAME.

Best place to start gaining info regarding MAME is found at: https://docs.mamedev.org/

People generally don't just up and start writing drivers without some background in hardware knowledge and the ability to understand HOW a device works. The MAME source is full of source file examples that you can break down and examine. Learning general programming concepts which will help you understand things easier. C++ is pretty much a requirement, though, if you want to contribute full on drivers. It all takes a level a dedication that few people can or want to put in.

In addition to what Tafoid already said: There used to be a website called "Let's Hack Arcade Games" that had a few articles about how to use the MAME debugger, with Donkey Kong and the Z80 (?) as examples. Although it is gone now, luckily it got archived over at archive.org aka The Internet Archive Wayback Machine (perhaps these are useful) :

https://web.archive.org/web/20161106154 ... com/?p=338

PS: If you like what archive.org is doing, please consider making a donation.

Thank you both! I will take a look at these URLs and see what I can learn. Fortunately, I know C++ very well. I think I'll start with something synthetic but simple maybe like the existing Grant Searle z80 - gsz80