SDK85 vs ASM 8086 Emulator & Compiler

An emulator of the SDK-85 System Design Kit issued by Intel in the mid-seventies. The kit featured an 8085 micro processor, some basic IO chips, and a UI comprised of a hexpad and a six-digit seven-segment display. There was also a ROM plugged onto the board which contained a monitor program to enter and execute machine code on the 8085. The app emulates an 8085 and executes the monitor (shippment granted by Intel as long as the app is free and educational). The original kit leveraged the serial IO pins of the 8085 to connect a TTY as a somewhat more comfortable alternative to the hexpad/ display UI used by the monitor on startup. A wipe-left gesture shifts in a simple terminal and the monitor switches to TTY mode. To use the app one needs to get a copy of the original SDK-85 System Design Kit User‘s Manual (ask Google) and work it thru. Some knowledge of the 8085 and its instruction set is helpful as well, and being a boomer nerd who loved to program micro computers when young (and still does) is key. Intel designed the monitor to run in a loop that keeps the CPU constantly busy (on a single thread). To prevent the battery from draining the app suspends executing after 15 seconds indicated by a slightly blurred display. Tapping the centered play-pause button resumes the monitor or any other program in execution. Timeout and a few other options can be changed in the app‘s entry in Settings.

Master the foundations of computer architecture with the most comprehensive 8086 assembly environment for mobile and desktop. This app transforms your device into a powerful 16-bit workstation, allowing you to write, compile, and debug x86 code without the need for complex virtual machines or DOSBox configurations. Technical Capabilities • Fully integrated 8086 CPU emulation supporting over 60 essential instructions. • Built-in NASM-compatible assembler for instant execution. • Real-time disassembly view to bridge the gap between source code and machine language. • Authentic 1MB memory mapping simulating a true real-mode environment. Advanced Debugging Suite • Precise control with breakpoints and single-step execution. • Live register monitoring for AX, BX, CX, DX, SP, BP, SI, and DI. • Visual FLAGS register tracking (Carry, Zero, Sign, etc.). • Deep memory inspection with a hex-based editor. • Execution logs to trace every instruction cycle. Hardware & System Services • BIOS INT 10h support for screen control, cursor manipulation, and scrolling. • DOS INT 21h support for keyboard input, string output, and program termination. Optimized for Learning • Pre-loaded templates ranging from basic logic to complex algorithms. • Syntax-highlighted editor optimized for low-level coding. • Native performance across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with keyboard shortcut support. Perfect for CS students, OS developers, and retro-computing enthusiasts seeking to understand how software interacts with hardware at the lowest level.