Z80 Disassembler | FHD |

When a prefix is seen, the decoder changes context.

Machine learning is creeping into reverse engineering, but for Z80, the small code size and deterministic control flow mean traditional algorithms remain superior. However, interesting work includes: z80 disassembler

A disassembler is often the first step in a larger pipeline: to a high-level intermediate representation (IR), or reassembling a modified binary. When a prefix is seen, the decoder changes context

A Z80 disassembler is more than a lookup table; it is a control-flow-sensitive, context-aware reconstructor of executable semantics. From the simple linear sweep to the sophisticated recursive descent with cross-reference resolution, the design choices reflect a fundamental tradeoff: speed vs. accuracy vs. completeness. A Z80 disassembler is more than a lookup

In the world of retrocomputing, a reliable Z80 disassembler is a time machine. It lets you peer into the minds of 1980s programmers, decode their clever memory-saving tricks, and preserve digital history—one opcode at a time.

The disassembler reads the current byte. If the byte corresponds to a standard instruction (unprefixed), it prints the mnemonic and consumes the appropriate number of operand bytes.

Once the mnemonic is identified, the disassembler must determine the data requirements: