Space Invaders (Assembly) - Christmas Edition

The Invaders repository is a comprehensive exploration of a Space Invaders clone created in Assembly language, showcasing the knowledge gained through rigorous study and experimentation. This project was inspired by a commitment to learn Assembly during December 2025, drawing from tutorials in Oscar Toledo G's Programming Boot Sector Games.

The process involved a deep dive into the complexities of Assembly language, addressed through analyzing and rewriting the original game code written in a format optimized for the constraints of a boot sector. The learning experience was greatly enriched by utilizing AI assistance to clarify coding concepts, making it akin to having a personal instructor. This method involved line-by-line annotations and adjustments for better readability, while still achieving a final code size of just 571 bytes.

An essential aspect of this project is the focus on understanding the logic behind each code instruction. The learning methodology emphasized questioning and self-explanation to foster a deeper comprehension of the code’s purpose, making it an effective educational approach in grasping Assembly language.

Code Example

A notable code snippet rewritten for clarity:

  mov ax, [level]         ; Loads the level into AL, and lives into AH.
  inc ax                  ; Add 1 to the level value in AL.
  stosw                   ; Store AX into RAM at ES:DI for a durable copy.
  mov ah, al              ; AX now contains the level's descent value.
  xchg ax, dx             ; Exchanges the values of AX and DX.

Development Progress

The development of this project was documented through continuous commits, creating a "live coding" environment that provides educational insights into the evolving understanding of Assembly programming.

Running the Game

The game can be compiled and run using the following commands in a DOSBox environment:

nasm -f bin invaders.asm -o invaders.com

dosbox invaders.com

The repository serves as both a learning platform for those interested in Assembly language and a demonstration of how traditional coding challenges can be addressed through innovative methods. For a look at the original code, it can be reviewed here. This project stands as a testament to the challenges and rewards of learning a low-level programming language.