HN Showcase
Back to browse
Python running on the Super Nintendo (in-browser demo)

Python running on the Super Nintendo (in-browser demo)

by FabianCarbonara·Jul 6, 2026·6 points·4 comments
Visit ProjectView on HN

AI Analysis

●●●BangerWizardryBig BrainRabbit Hole

MicroPython on 3.58 MHz SNES with 128 KB RAM actually runs a working REPL.

Strengths
  • •Found and filed 23 compiler bugs plus 4 MicroPython bugs upstream
  • •Headless emulator harness enabled hundreds of automated test iterations
  • •Works on real hardware via flashcart, not just emulation
Weaknesses
  • •56 KB heap severely limits practical Python usage scenarios
  • •Niche audience limits real-world adoption beyond retro enthusiasts
Target Audience

Retro computing enthusiasts and Python developers

Similar To

MicroPython · CircuitPython · GameBoy Python ports

Post Description

MicroPython (lexer, compiler and VM) on the SNES: 3.58 MHz 65816, 56 KB Python heap, 16-bit int. The REPL runs right inside the post via EmulatorJS and also works on real hardware via flashcart.

I did this as a benchmark for Claude Fable. When the export ban hit, switching to Opus got the project stuck for three weeks; Fable came back and found the real bug in ninety minutes.

Along the way: 23 compiler bugs and 4 MicroPython bugs, each root-caused with a minimal reproducer and filed upstream.

If you run it on real hardware, I want a picture!

Similar Projects

AI/ML●●Solid

SnesGPT, micro-GPT ported to ASM on the Super Nintendo

This stuffs a full decoder-only transformer (RMSNorm, ReLU^2 MLP, multi-head attention with KV cache) into a SNES ROM and makes the 3.58 MHz 65816 actually perform matrix math by using the PPU hardware multiplier and Q8.8 fixed-point math. The repo documents the pipeline end-to-end — training/export, ROM lookup tables, and an assembler build — so it reads like a curated engineering demo rather than a sketchy toy.

WizardryNiche GemRabbit Hole
vga805
214mo ago
Developer Tools●●Solid

Super ISO Updater

Automates ISO updates for Ventoy drives with checksum verification built in.

Solve My ProblemShip It
JoshuaVandaele
201mo ago
Security●●Solid

TUI cross-platform Python tool for network discovery and port auditing

LAN Detection and Custom Scan modes combine ICMP, ARP and TCP socket checks to quickly enumerate hosts and probe common ports, plus exportable TXT logs and a Windows EXE for non‑Python users. It’s a handy, pragmatic tool for quick local audits or lab work; not groundbreaking (nmap/masscan still win for deep fingerprinting or high-performance scanning) but convenient and easy to drop into workflows.

Niche GemShip It
mennylevinski
204mo ago