emulator: Exel-Hence
type: libretro
core_classification: pure_libretro
source: "https://gitlab.com/recalbox/packages/recalbox-cores/libretro-exel-hence"
upstream: "https://gitlab.com/recalbox/packages/recalbox-cores/libretro-exel-hence"
profiled_date: "2026-10-17"
source_commit: "213328332cbfd8121e018493443e223a7a780961"
core_version: "v0.9"
display_name: "Exelvision - EXL 100 (Exel-Hence)"
cores:
  - "exel-hence"
systems:
  - "exelvision-exl100"

notes: |
  Exelvision EXL 100 emulator written as a libretro core by Recalbox.

  retro_load_game() asks for the system directory and hands it to
  Exl100LoadRoms() (ref: src/libretro.c:710-734), which ignores it: the
  main and sub CPU BIOS images are unpacked from arrays compiled into the
  core (ref: src/exl100.c:1163-1181). The images are raw DEFLATE streams
  XOR'd against a rotating key and inflated at load time
  (ref: src/exl100_bios.c:56-101). Both arrays are present in the
  shipped header (ref: src/exl100_bios.h:6703-6704). Exelmemoria, the
  ExelBASIC and ExelBASIC+ cartridges and the ExelDisk DOS come from the same embedded
  tables (ref: src/libretro.c:508, 533, 562).

  The only file opened by name is a sidecar next to a .cram content file,
  <basename>cram.txt or <basename>.txt, scanned for a CALL EXEC or RUN
  line to auto-start the program (ref: src/libretro.c:614-686). It
  belongs to the content.

exclusion_note: "BIOS, BASIC cartridges and ExelDisk DOS compiled into the core; the system directory is never read"
files: []