8080compatible

8080compatible refers to hardware or software that can execute machine code written for the Intel 8080 microprocessor by implementing the same instruction set architecture and behavior. In practice, 8080-compatible cores or processors decode and execute the 8080 instructions in a compatible way, enabling binary compatibility with 8080 programs without source changes.

Historically, several processors were designed to be 8080-compatible or to maintain compatibility with its instruction set. The Zilog Z80 is the most familiar example: it largely implements the 8080 instruction set but adds many extensions, extra registers, and new instructions. Code written for the 8080 often runs on the Z80, with differences limited to timing and certain edge cases. The Intel 8085 is another example; it is binary-compatible with the 8080 and adds improvements such as an integrated clock generator and additional instructions, while preserving compatibility with existing 8080 software. Other microcontrollers and hobbyist designs have promoted 8080 compatibility to ease software porting and reuse.

Implementation considerations: 8080 compatibility means preserving opcode encoding and operand semantics, so existing 8080 binaries can execute on the target without modification. However, timing behavior can differ between implementations, and peripheral interfaces or interrupt handling may vary. In emulation, 8080-compatible emulators reproduce the complete instruction set and behavior, translating 8080 instructions to the host environment.

Legacy and relevance: 8080 compatibility was central to software portability in early microcomputing, facilitating program distribution across systems. Today, the concept remains relevant in retrocomputing, education, and certain embedded contexts where historic software needs to run on newer or alternative hardware.

See also: Intel 8080, Zilog Z80, Intel 8085, 8-bit microprocessors, backward compatibility.