Incredible Achievement: Building an NES Emulator in Just 40 Minutes with GPT-5

In an astonishing demonstration of AI capabilities, one developer recently leveraged the power of GPT-5 with the Codex CLI to create a fully functional NES emulator in pure C in under 40 minutes. This remarkable feat not only showcases the efficiency of modern AI technologies but also represents a significant milestone in rapid software development.

The developer initially focused on creating a basic emulator that could load ROM files, marking the first step in what quickly became an impressive project. The challenge was to not only handle the core functionality but also ensure compatibility with classic Nintendo games—a feat that seemed ambitious even to seasoned programmers.

Within a mere 20 minutes, the foundation of the emulator was established. With core features up and running, the developer set out to implement graphical and audio functionalities, transforming the code into a fully immersive gaming experience.

By the end of the session, the astonishing result was a complete NES emulator, ready for gameplay, all crafted in pure C. The developer expressed disbelief at how swiftly everything came together, stating that they had anticipated such technology wouldn’t be capable of building an NES emulator until at least 2026 or 2027.

For those interested in reviewing the code or exploring this groundbreaking project further, it is available on GitHub, making it accessible for developers and enthusiasts alike.

Explore the GitHub repository and witness the power of AI in creating complex software in record time: NES Emulator GitHub Repository.

This achievement exemplifies the cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence and their potential impact on the future of software development. What will AI achieve next? The possibilities appear endless!