How do I get started with PCSX-Redux?

Updated

PCSX-Redux is a PlayStation 1 emulator aimed at development, hacking, and reverse engineering. To get started, download a build for your platform from the official GitHub page linked on the documentation home, then use the documentation sections for compiling, command-line arguments, menus, and debugging as you need them. The docs are organized so you can jump straight to the part you need rather than reading everything in order.

Get the emulator

The documentation home points you to the emulator downloads here:

https://github.com/grumpycoders/pcsx-redux#where

That page is the starting point for obtaining a build for the various supported platforms. If you only want to run the emulator, a prebuilt download is the fastest path. If you want to modify or build it yourself, go to the compiling section instead.

Learn the interface and launch options

Two documentation sections cover day-to-day use:

  • Menus — what each menu does inside the emulator.
  • Command line arguments — flags you can pass when launching, useful for scripting or setting specific behavior at startup.

Read these before diving into debugging so you understand how the emulator is configured and controlled.

Set up debugging

PCSX-Redux has a dedicated debugging area. The relevant documentation sections are:

  • Debugging with PCSX-Redux — the general debugging workflow.
  • GDB server — connecting a GDB client to the emulator.
  • Connecting Ghidra to PCSX-Redux — using Ghidra alongside the emulator for analysis.

These let you attach external tools to a running session rather than working blind.

Explore the scripting and API features

Beyond debugging, the docs cover features for inspecting and automating the emulator:

  • VRAM viewer and GPU Logger for graphics inspection.
  • MIPS API for interacting with the emulated CPU.
  • Web server and Webserver Lua API for remote control and automation.
  • Lua — introduction, loaded libraries, basic API, rendering, file API, building ISO images, PPF patches, memory and registers, events, breakpoints, and an inline assembler.

Work with PSX binaries and OpenBIOS

If you are handling PlayStation 1 software, the docs include:

  • Handling of PSX binaries — how the emulator deals with executables.
  • Case studies — worked examples.
  • OpenBIOS — the open-source BIOS replacement.

Where to ask questions

The documentation lists two Discord communities:

  • The PCSX-Redux Discord for emulator-specific questions.
  • The PSX.Dev Discord for general PlayStation 1 development, hacking, and reverse engineering.

Suggested order

  1. Download a build from the GitHub link.
  2. Skim Menus and Command line arguments.
  3. If you are developing or reversing, read Debugging with PCSX-Redux, then set up the GDB server or Ghidra connection.
  4. Use the Lua and MIPS API sections when you need to script or inspect internals.
  5. Join the relevant Discord when you get stuck.