Dev recreates 40-year-old Sinclair ZX Spectrum as a Mac app using GPT-6 Astra and Blender
DeryaTR_ · x · 2026-09-05
A developer used GPT-6 Astra with Blender to build a Mac app that faithfully simulates his first computer, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K from over 40 years ago — calling it an emotional full-circle moment of AI reviving the machine that taught him programming.
Key features:
- Original boot experience: starts into the Sinclair copyright screen and BASIC prompt; Power Cycle clears memory and restarts.
- Rubber keyboard: 40 animated clickable keys plus Mac keyboard input, with shift combos, symbols, and the classic P → PRINT behavior.
- Sinclair BASIC: write, edit, and run numbered programs with calculations, variables, loops, graphics, and beeper commands.
- Virtual CRT display: original graphics, colors, and border, with optional scanlines or clean-picture mode.
- Cassette loading/saving: insert .tap/.tzx files, run LOAD "" with authentic loading tones; record BASIC programs to .tzx for persistence.
- Playable Gridrunner included with original graphics and sound; other compatible tapes can be imported, though broad compatibility is untested.
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