Stella

Stella emulates the Atari 2600 Video Computer System, letting users run the classic console’s games on modern computers. It reproduces the hardware behavior of the original 1977 system, supporting the full range of cartridge software and providing features such as input mapping, video scaling, and sound emulation that match the original experience.

The emulator is available for many operating systems, including macOS, Linux, Windows, and a variety of Unix‑like platforms. It is released under the GNU General Public License and has been maintained by a community of developers since its initial Linux‑only version by Bradford W. Mott, with current stewardship by Stephen Anthony and additional contributors. Documentation, FAQs, and guides are provided to help users install, configure, and extend the emulator.

Stella also serves as a resource for Atari 2600 homebrew development, offering information about the console’s architecture and tools for creating new software. The project is distributed as DonationWare, inviting contributions to support ongoing maintenance and enhancements.