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by rogerbinns 4080 days ago
Yes, they have. There are terminal emulators (Cathode) and a very accurate simulation as part of xscreensaver. See jwz's post about it - http://www.jwz.org/blog/2011/01/cathode-vintage-terminal-emu... - and a mirror of the file where it is implemented - https://github.com/danfuzz/xscreensaver/blob/master/hacks/an...

The comments in that C file show just how much attention to detail was made.

2 comments

Yeah that looks like a great start, especially with how the NTSC signal is generated and interpreted. I don't see much around simulating the electron beam and its interaction with the phosphors and front of the tube though. I imagine a truly accurate physical simulation would need to use monte carlo methods or similar techniques, almost like an advanced 3D renderer does for global illumination.
Everything I saw about Cathode (also available on the App Store) didn't seem to actually give much detail or confirmation that there was any simulation of those characteristics, more a "fast, accurate emulation", which could easily be a stereotyped / exaggerated experience.