diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61f2dc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+**/__pycache__/
diff --git a/Emulator/glowbitEmulator.py b/Emulator/glowbitEmulator.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b12366b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Emulator/glowbitEmulator.py
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import sys
+sys.path.insert(0, '../glowbit')
+import glowbit
+import os
+from colorama import Fore, Back, Style
+from time import sleep 
+
+class WSE:
+    def PixelStrip(self, numLEDs: int, pin :int):
+        return self
+
+    def begin(self):
+        return None
+    
+    def setPixelColor(self, x: int, colour: int):
+        return None
+    
+    def show(self):
+        return None
+        
+ws = WSE()   
+
+class matrix8x8(glowbit.matrix8x8):
+
+    def __init__(self, tileRows = 1, tileCols = 1, pin = 18, brightness = 20, mapFunction = None, rateLimitFPS = -1, rateLimitCharactersPerSecond = -1, sm = 0):
+        self.tileRows = tileRows
+        self.tileCols = tileCols
+        self.numLEDs = tileRows*tileCols*64
+        self.numLEDsX = tileCols*8
+        self.numLEDsY = tileRows*8
+        self.numCols = self.numLEDsX
+        self.numRows = self.numLEDsY
+        
+        self.strip = ws.PixelStrip(self.numLEDs, pin)
+        self.strip.begin()
+        self.pixelsShow = self._pixelsShowRPi
+        self.ticks_ms = self._ticks_ms_Linux
+
+        super().__init__(tileRows, tileCols, pin, brightness, mapFunction, rateLimitFPS, rateLimitCharactersPerSecond, sm)
+        self.pixelsShow = self.draw
+
+    def getColor(self, row: int, col: int):
+        colInt = self.ar[self.remap(col, row)]
+        r = (colInt&0xFF0000) >> 16 
+        g = (colInt&0xFF00)>> 8
+        b = (colInt&0xFF)
+        # need a better way to do this
+        if (r >= 150 and g < 150 and b < 150):
+            return Fore.RED
+        if (r < 150 and g >= 150 and b < 150):
+            return Fore.GREEN
+        if (r < 150 and g < 150 and b >= 150):
+            return Fore.BLUE
+        if (r >= 150 and g >= 150 and b < 150):
+            return Fore.YELLOW
+        if (r >= 150 and g >= 150 and b >= 150):
+            return Fore.WHITE
+        if (r < 50 and g < 50 and b < 50):
+            return Fore.BLACK
+        return Fore.MAGENTA
+
+    def draw(self):
+        os.system('cls' if os.name == 'nt' else 'clear')
+        for r in range (self.tileRows*8):
+            for c in range (self.tileCols*8):
+                col = self.getColor(r, c)
+                print(Back.BLACK + col + '■', end=' ') 
+            print()
+        print(Style.RESET_ALL)
+        sleep(0.25)
+    
+
+    def blankDisplay(self):
+        for i in range(int(len(self.ar))):
+            self.ar[i] = self.rgbColour(0,0,0)
+        self.pixelsShow()
+    
+
diff --git a/Emulator/testMatrix.py b/Emulator/testMatrix.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73e9ff4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Emulator/testMatrix.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+try:
+    import glowbitEmulator as glowbit
+except:
+    import glowbit
+
+matrix = glowbit.matrix8x8(3, 3)
+
+matrix.demo()
+
diff --git a/glowbit/glowbit.py b/glowbit/glowbit.py
index e3f58ad..13fddb6 100644
--- a/glowbit/glowbit.py
+++ b/glowbit/glowbit.py
@@ -7,8 +7,12 @@
     import rp2
 
 if _SYSNAME == 'Linux':
-    import rpi_ws281x as ws
-
+    try:
+        import rpi_ws281x as ws
+    except:
+        print ("rpi_ws281x not installed")
+        ws = None
+        
     # Dummy ptr32() for within micropython.viper
     def ptr32(arg):
         return arg
@@ -1498,7 +1502,7 @@ def __init__(self, tileRows = 1, tileCols = 1, pin = 18, brightness = 20, mapFun
             self.pixelsShow = self._pixelsShowPico
             self.ticks_ms = time.ticks_ms
 
-        if _SYSNAME == 'Linux':
+        if _SYSNAME == 'Linux' and ws is not None:
             self.strip = ws.PixelStrip(self.numLEDs, pin)
             self.strip.begin()
             self.pixelsShow = self._pixelsShowRPi