🔧 Retro Computing Tools

This is a collection of development and utility tools for retro computing systems. These are the ones currently gathered here.

🎯 Cross‑Platform Development & Assemblers

cc65

Link: cc65.github.io
What it is: ANSI‑C plus macro‑assembler toolchain targeting C64, C128, NES, Atari 8‑bit, Apple II, etc. Powerful linker/runtime library support.

KickAssembler

Link: kicks-ass.net
What it is: Modern 6502 assembler with rich macros, segment control, fully scriptable build system and NES support—favourite in demoscene and hacker tools generation.

Relaunch64

Link: GitHub
What it is: Java‑based cross‑platform IDE: syntax highlighting, auto‑completion, project structure and easy integration with KickAsm / ACME / c64tass.

CBM .prg Studio

Link: ajordison.co.uk
What it is: Windows IDE (BASIC & ASM) with built‑in sprite/charset editors, context launcher for emulators, VICE snapshot support. Widely used in scene and hobby coder circles.

💾 Disk Image / Filesystem Utilities

c1541 (VICE‑included)

What it is: Command‑line disk‑image tool for D64/D71/D81 images, perfect for scripts or precise disk building, matching real 1541 behaviours.

CBM Disk Image Tools

Link: GitHub
What it is: Small CLI utilities to checksum, list and extract files from .D64/.G64 tech formats—great for data archiving, QA and long‑term preservation.

DirMaster

Link: style64.org
What it is: Windows GUI tool for visually exploring and editing C64 disk images (.D64), adding PRG files, changing blocks, renaming, etc. Standard companion in scene pipelines.

🎨 Graphics & Sprite / Charset Editors

CharPad

Link: charpad.en.softonic.com
What it is: Feature‑rich editor for C64 character sets, tilemaps and fonts; supports import/export to .PRG, PNG, or VICE snapshots.

SpritePad / Spritemate

What it is: Oldschool C64 sprite editor; Spritemate is the modern web‑based variant supporting .spr / .spm export and JSON.

Multipaint

Link: GitHub
What it is: Pixel‑art editor simulating 8‑bit constraints (C64 multicolor, palette clash), undo, layers and retargeting for C64, ZX Spectrum, Atari, etc.

ThePetscii / Sprdef

Link: GitHub
What it is: .NET sprite/PETSCII library plus CLI; for generating graphics algorithmically or integrating into syscall workflows. Useful for CI/VCS tools generation.

🐞 Debug, Monitor & System Inspection Tools

VICE built‑in Monitor

What it is: Powerful in‑emulator debugger with full disassembler, assembler, memory watchpoints, breakpoints, and snapshot export.

RetroDebugger

Link: GitHub
What it is: Real‑time multi‑platform memory/code debugger for C64, Atari, NES; memory visualizer, live prototyping.

SnoopDOS (Amiga OS)

What it is: Logs library, device, DOS calls and resource usage in real‑time; invaluable for tracing software behaviour.

Scout (Amiga OS)

What it is: Interactive task/resource monitor for Amiga systems: shows loads, sockets, frames, CLI history and CPU load graph; written in ARexx‑aware architecture.

ShowMem (Amiga/MorphOS)

What it is: Graphical memory‑fragmentation inspector; ideal for diagnosing allocation issues on older or memory‑tight systems.

🔌 Hardware & Firmware Tools

Grunch (Amiga package manager)

Link: geit.de
What it is: A multi‑OS package repository manager for Amiga/MorphOS; streamlines downloading, installing or removing apps from curated catalogues.

AmiUpdate (AmigaOS updater)

Link: amigaos.net
What it is: Official online updater for AmigaOS 4.x; finds OS and third‑party updates automatically, similar to modern AppStores.

🎶 Music & Chiptune Trackers

DefleMask Tracker

What it is: Cross‑platform multi‑chip tracker (SID, OPL3, SPC700, etc.); excellent for composing music for C64, Atari ST/STE, Amiga, NES, SMS libraries.

GoatTracker (C64 SID tracker)

What it is: Text‑based or GUI tracker focusing on SID chip patterns, play‑routines and hardware sequences. Has become the standard for modern chiptune production on C64.

🛠 FPGA & Cartridge / Interface Tools

MiSTer Downloader / Update_All scripts

Link: GitHub
What it is: Linux/Windows shell scripts for installing/upgrading core images, menu launchers, and firmware for the MiSTer FPGA platform.

Turbo Chameleon 64 Menu Tool

What it is: Official firmware menu interface for Turbo Chameleon 64 (cartridge hardware), used to mount .D64/.CRT images, manage IDE, REU ports, and fast‑load settings.

🧩 Assembler & Loader Tools

Turbo Macro Pro Cross (TMPx)

Link: GitHub
What it is: The modern, cross‑platform release of the classic Turbo Macro Pro assembler, compatible with original syntax and great for cartridge aggregations.

🎯 Quick Start Guide

What type of tool do you need?