diff --git a/systems/vg5000.h b/systems/vg5000.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b03dd9b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/systems/vg5000.h
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+/*#
+
+    # vg5000.h
+
+    A VG5000 emulator in a C header.
+
+    Do this:
+    ~~~C
+    #define CHIPS_IMPL
+    ~~~
+    before you include this file in *one* C or C++ file to create the
+    implementation.
+
+    Optionally provide the following macros with your own implementation
+
+    ~~~C
+    CHIPS_ASSERT(c)
+    ~~~
+        your own assert macro (default: assert(c))
+
+    You need to include the following headers before including vg5000.h:
+
+        - TODO: provide list of dependencies
+
+#*/
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <stdalign.h>
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
+// bump this whenever the vg5000_t struct layout changes
+#define VG5000_SNAPSHOT_VERSION (0x0001)
+
+// VG5000µ models
+// TODO: useful or redondant with ROM images?
+typedef enum {
+    VG5000_TYPE_10,
+    VG5000_TYPE_11,
+} vg5000_type_t;
+
+// Config parameters for vg5000_init()
+typedef struct {
+    vg5000_type_t type;     // VG5000 model type
+    chips_debug_t debug;    // optional debugger hook
+    // TODO: audio state
+    // ROM images
+    struct {
+        chips_range_t vg5000_10;
+        chips_range_t vg5000_11;
+    } roms;
+} vg5000_desc_t;
+
+// TODO: verify how it works
+#define VG5000_FRAMEBUFFER_SIZE (320*200)
+#define VG5000_PALETTE_SIZE (16*3)
+
+// VG5000 emulator state
+typedef struct {
+    z80_t cpu;
+    beeper_t beeper;
+    vg5000_type_t type;
+    uint32_t tick_count;
+    uint8_t blink_counter;
+    kbd_t kbd;
+    mem_t mem;
+    uint64_t pins;
+    uint64_t freq_hz;
+    chips_debug_t debug;
+    uint8_t ram[8][0x4000]; // TODO: verify
+    uint8_t rom[2][0x4000]; // TODO: verify
+    // TODO: to replace with EF9345 framebuffer?
+    alignas(64) uint8_t fb[VG5000_FRAMEBUFFER_SIZE];
+    uint8_t palette[VG5000_PALETTE_SIZE];
+} vg5000_t;
+
+// initialize a new VG5000µ instance
+void vg5000_init(vg5000_t* sys, const vg5000_desc_t* desc);
+// discard a VG5000µ instance
+void vg5000_discard(vg5000_t* sys);
+// reset a VG5000µ instance
+void vg5000_reset(vg5000_t* sys);
+// query information about display requirements, can be called with nullptr
+chips_display_info_t vg5000_display_info(vg5000_t* sys);
+// run the VG5000µ instance for a given number of microseconds, return number of ticks
+uint32_t vg5000_exec(vg5000_t* sys, uint32_t micro_seconds);
+// send a key-down event
+void vg5000_key_down(vg5000_t* sys, int key_code);
+// send a key-up event
+void vg5000_key_up(vg5000_t* sys, int key_code);
+// load a VG5000µ file into the emulator
+bool vg5000_quickload(vg5000_t* sys, chips_range_t data);
+// save the VG5000µ state
+void vg5000_save_snapshot(vg5000_t* sys, vg5000_t* dst);
+// load a VG5000µ state
+bool vg5000_load_snapshot(vg5000_t* sys, uint32_t version, vg5000_t* src);
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+} // extern "C"
+#endif
+
+/*-- IMPLEMENTATION ----------------------------------------------------------*/
+#ifdef CHIPS_IMPL
+
+#ifndef CHIPS_ASSERT
+    #include <assert.h>
+    #define CHIPS_ASSERT(c) assert(c)
+#endif
+
+void vg5000_init(vg5000_t* sys, const vg5000_desc_t* desc)
+{}
+
+void vg5000_discard(vg5000_t* sys)
+{}
+
+void vg5000_reset(vg5000_t* sys)
+{}
+
+chips_display_info_t vg5000_display_info(vg5000_t* sys)
+{
+    const chips_display_info_t res = {
+        .frame = {
+            .dim = {
+                .width = 320,   // TODO: verify
+                .height = 200   // TODO: verify (and take for EF9345)
+            },
+            .bytes_per_pixel = 1,   // TODO: verify
+            .buffer = {
+                .ptr = sys?sys->fb:0,     // TODO: get from EF9345 ?
+                .size = VG5000_FRAMEBUFFER_SIZE,    // TODO: get from EF9345
+            }
+        },
+        .screen = {
+            .x = 0,
+            .y = 0,
+            .width = 320, // TODO: get from EF9345
+            .height = 200, // TODO: get from EF9345
+        },
+        .palette = {
+            .ptr = sys?sys->palette:0, // TODO: get from EF9345
+            .size = VG5000_PALETTE_SIZE // TODO: get from EF9345
+        }
+    };
+
+    CHIPS_ASSERT(((sys == 0) && (res.frame.buffer.ptr == 0)) || ((sys != 0) && (res.frame.buffer.ptr != 0)));
+    CHIPS_ASSERT(((sys == 0) && (res.palette.ptr == 0)) || ((sys != 0) && (res.palette.ptr != 0)));
+
+    return res;
+}
+
+uint32_t vg5000_exec(vg5000_t* sys, uint32_t micro_seconds)
+{}
+
+void vg5000_key_down(vg5000_t* sys, int key_code)
+{}
+
+void vg5000_key_up(vg5000_t* sys, int key_code)
+{}
+
+bool vg5000_quickload(vg5000_t* sys, chips_range_t data)
+{}
+
+void vg5000_save_snapshot(vg5000_t* sys, vg5000_t* dst)
+{}
+
+bool vg5000_load_snapshot(vg5000_t* sys, uint32_t version, vg5000_t* src)
+{}
+
+
+#endif // CHIPS_IMPL