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xAce is a source-built emulator for the Jupiter Ace, a Z80 home computer known for using FORTH rather than BASIC. It targets Unix-like systems. On Linux, the documented route is to install a compiler, CMake and X11 development headers, build xAce with CMake and make, then launch it from the directory containing a separately obtained Jupiter Ace ROM image.
What xAce does
xAce emulates the Jupiter Ace and is intended to run on most Unix flavours, according to the xAce project. The Jupiter Ace is a Z80-based home computer whose programming language was FORTH; NetBSD describes it as a “Jupiter ACE Z80 Forth Computer Emulator” in its package record.
Edward Patel wrote xAce, basing it on Russell Marks’s xz81 ZX81 emulator, which in turn was based on Ian Collier’s xz80 ZX Spectrum emulator. The project’s documented upstream release is version 0.5, dated 22 December 2012.
Build and run xAce on Linux
The documented build uses CMake and make. On Linux, the guide calls for a C compiler such as gcc, CMake, build-essential, and X11 development packages such as libx11-dev and libxext-dev (or equivalent packages for your distribution). Package names and installation commands vary by Linux distribution.
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- Get the source and ROM. Obtain the xAce source and a Jupiter Ace ROM image that you are legally entitled to use. The documentation does not describe a bundled ROM.
- Install build dependencies. Install a C compiler, CMake, build-essential and the X11 development headers required by your distribution.
- Build from the extracted source directory. Open a terminal in that directory and run
cmake ., followed bymake. The project documentation says the resulting binary is placed insrc/. - Run it where the ROM is available. The Linux guide says xAce must be started from a terminal and from the same directory as the ROM image. Change to that directory and invoke the built
xaceexecutable, for example./xaceif the binary is there; otherwise use its path. - Install only if wanted. The project documentation lists
make installas optional. It does not document a graphical launcher or one-click installer.
Keeping the ROM in the launch directory is the practical detail most likely to prevent a confusing first run: building successfully does not provide the ROM or make it available automatically.
Version and platform-package context
Upstream documentation identifies xAce 0.5 as released on 22 December 2012. NetBSD pkgsrc separately records a package source version of xace-0.5.20250430, licensed under GPLv2, built with CMake, and with no runtime dependencies listed. That is a NetBSD package snapshot dated 2025, not evidence of a new upstream feature release. The NetBSD record also lists binary packages for several architectures.
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Choosing xAce or another Jupiter Ace emulator
The Jupiter Ace archive lists SpudACE, EightyOne, no$zx, MESS, Vace and Multi Machine as other emulator options. Their host support, installation experience, user interface, file-loading options and development features differ. The archive documents SpudACE 1.02 as supporting TAP and TZX loading; that detail should not be assumed for xAce or every alternative.
| Option | What the cited material establishes | What to check for your use |
|---|---|---|
| xAce | Targets Unix-like systems and is built from source with CMake and make; the Linux guide describes launching it from a terminal in the ROM directory. Project documentation and Linux guide. | Whether your host’s compiler and X11 development packages are available, and whether its workflow suits you. |
| SpudACE 1.02 | The Jupiter Ace archive documents TAP and TZX loading. Jupiter Ace emulator archive. | Host platform, current availability and any other formats or features you require. |
| EightyOne, no$zx, MESS, Vace and Multi Machine | The archive identifies these as alternative emulator routes. Jupiter Ace emulator archive. | For each option, check supported host systems, installation method, tape or snapshot formats, interface, sound and keyboard behavior, timing, and debugging tools. |
The available descriptions do not provide controlled tests, so they do not establish which emulator is most accurate. Choose based on your operating system and the files and workflow you need rather than an unsupported accuracy ranking.
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Loading games and finding FORTH documentation
If your goal is to load TAP or TZX files, confirm that the specific emulator supports the format; the documented SpudACE 1.02 support is not a format list for xAce. The archive’s broader reference collection includes searchable first- and second-edition Jupiter Ace user manuals, Ace4000 and translated manuals, a FORTH Bridge, and reference cards. Its second-edition manual was also sold as a retail book. These materials are useful alongside an emulator when learning the machine’s FORTH environment.
For a physical reference, the relevant search phrase is Jupiter Ace user manual book. Current marketplace listings, editions, prices and regional availability are not established here.
If you want a physical Jupiter Ace-style machine
A Jupiter Ace resource directory identifies the Minstrel 4th as a modern compatible hardware kit. It is a hardware route for readers who would rather use a physical machine than an emulator; check the directory for current details.
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