# gbdev/rgbds

Rednex Game Boy Development System - An assembly toolchain for the Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color

Repository: https://github.com/gbdev/rgbds
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/rgbds
Homepage: https://rgbds.gbdev.io
Language: C++
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: gameboy, gbdev, gamedev, assembly, asm, assembly-language, assembly-sm83, cplusplus, game-boy, game-development, gbz80, sm83
Last push: 2026-08-25T20:13:37+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 94/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 99, release rhythm 83, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 6199, "days_push": 8, "days_rel": 32, "gap_med": 59.0, "n_releases_24m": 9}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1638, forks 191 (observed 2026-08-28T04:05:15.095958+00:00)

## What it is
RGBDS is a free, open-source assembler/linker toolchain for developing Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color software in assembly. It comprises four CLI tools: RGBASM (assembler), RGBLINK (linker), RGBFIX (ROM header/checksum fixer), and RGBGFX (PNG-to-Game Boy graphics converter).

## Use cases
- assemble game boy roms from assembly source
- link object files into a playable game boy rom
- fix game boy rom header checksums
- convert png images to game boy tile graphics
- develop game boy color homebrew games
- build game boy roms in a docker ci pipeline
- write sm83 assembly for retro hardware

## When to choose
- you want to write Game Boy or Game Boy Color homebrew in native assembly
- you need a complete, well-documented, actively maintained GB assembly toolchain
- you want fine-grained control over ROM memory layout via linker scripts
- you need a toolchain that integrates into custom build pipelines or CI

## When to avoid
- you want to develop Game Boy games in C (use GBDK instead)
- you target other consoles or CPUs than the Game Boy's SM83
- you prefer a high-level game engine or visual tooling over assembly

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: stable
- function: compiler, developer-tools, graphics, cli
- domain: developer-tools, embedded-systems
- platform: windows, cli
- tags: gameboy, asm-assembler, linker, rom-header-fixer, png-graphics-converter, homebrew, sm83, gbz80, retro-gamedev, game-development, command-line, linux, macos, docker

## Member repositories
- gbdev/rgbds (main) score 94

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:15.095958+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T03:46:33.635201+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/gbdev/rgbds (fetched 2026-08-28T04:05:15.095958+00:00, sha e33e54c25614)
  - homepage: https://rgbds.gbdev.io (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.389850+00:00, sha a7511e3c6907)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.392340+00:00, sha 5c43418b7fb0)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/install (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.395837+00:00, sha c4a835744211)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs/v1.0.3 (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.397975+00:00, sha a1e5e0e0f144)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs/master (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.399729+00:00, sha 33d9a68c5678)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs/v1.0.2 (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.401278+00:00, sha eb9ee3385b65)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs/v1.0.1 (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.402726+00:00, sha 7c2183eb0d4a)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/docs/v1.0.0 (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.404275+00:00, sha f3bf11d34fb2)
  - site_page: https://rgbds.gbdev.io/faq (fetched 2026-08-29T11:19:45.394008+00:00, sha 2567f3ea3b86)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.