Emulator vs decompilation, explained with Melee: code that recompiles to the exact original ROM

Aizkmusic · x · 2026-09-08

The author uses a painting analogy to explain emulators vs decompilation: an emulator is like a print of a famous painting (observable but obfuscated), while a decomp reproduces exactly how it was made, stroke by stroke — requiring enormous work on quirks and context. For Melee, the decompiled code recompiles into something matching the dumped ROM bit-for-bit, preserving every bug and quirk.

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