HoneyCrisp FAQ

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Q: What's a .hc file? What does it do?
A: A .hc file is a program file format used with the HoneyCrisp Emulator. It contains hexadecimal machine code along with a small address header that tells the emulator where in memory the program should be loaded. This makes it easier to share and run Apple-1 software compared to raw binary dumps.

Q: What's a .hcstate file?
A: A .hcstate file is a save state file that captures the complete state of the HoneyCrisp emulator at a specific moment, including CPU registers, memory contents, and display output. You can save your progress while running a program and restore it later, making it easy to pause and resume your work.

Q: How do I save and load emulator states?
A: Click the "Save State" button to download a .hcstate file containing the current emulator state. To restore a saved state, click "Load State" and select your .hcstate file. This is useful for preserving your progress in programs or debugging.

Q: What are the keyboard controls?
A: HoneyCrisp uses your standard keyboard for input. All alphanumeric keys, punctuation, and special characters are mapped directly to the Apple-1. The Enter key functions as the Return key. The emulator captures keyboard input when the display area is focused. Note: The original Apple-1 only supported uppercase characters.

Q: What are the technical specifications of the emulated system?
A: HoneyCrisp emulates an Apple-1 computer with the following specs:

CPU: MOS 6502 running at 1 MHz
Memory: 64KB addressable space (though original Apple-1s typically had 4–8KB of RAM)
Display: 40x24 character display using the original Apple-1 character set
I/O: Keyboard input and terminal output via the 6820 PIA (Peripheral Interface Adapter)
Monitor: Woz Monitor ROM at $FF00–$FFFF for system control and program loading

Q: What is the memory layout?
A: The HoneyCrisp emulator uses the standard Apple-1 memory map:

$0000–$00FF: Zero Page (fast access memory)
$0100–$01FF: Stack
$0200–$0FFF: RAM (general purpose)
$1000–$CFFF: RAM (extended memory for programs)
$D000–$DFFF: I/O space (keyboard and display interface)
$E000–$EFFF: BASIC ROM (if loaded)
$FF00–$FFFF: Woz Monitor ROM

Q: What are the browser and system requirements?
A: HoneyCrisp runs in any modern web browser that supports JavaScript (ES6+), HTML5 Canvas, and the File API for loading programs and save states. Recommended browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest versions). No installation is required, and the emulator runs entirely in your browser. Desktop or laptop systems are recommended for best performance.

Q: Why is the HoneyCrisp page so bare?
A: There are several reasons:

Focus on emulator performance...without heavy styling, more system resources can be dedicated to emulating the Apple-1.
Easier management...HoneyCrisp already contains over 3,000 lines of code, and simple HTML avoids too much clutter.
I'm not too good at front-end styling in the first place. :-)

Q: How do I download .hc files or the HoneyCrisp source code?
A: As of December, 2025, .hc program downloads are currently unavailable. They will return as downloadable files in the near future.
However, if you want a .hc file, please email me at thereal.landonjsmith@gmail.com!
Source-Code for HoneyCrisp is available here: HoneyCrisp GitHub Repository

Q: How do I run .hc programs?
A: With the 1.2.x releases, running HC programs is much easier. Click the PROGRAM LIBRARY button, then select one of the 55 available programs. Downloads for all programs will return in the future.