Interesting. I am actually taking some programming classes via iTunes U, so I am trying to set a goal for myself. I really would love to create something to bring life back into all these PPC machines that apple decided to make obsolete. I love my MDD and am in the process of picking up a G5 dual, dual core simply for this emulator. I know it is an ambitious project but I can dream right? If anyone has a G5 theyd be willing to let go cheap or donate I could really use it. Also if there are any more programmers with alot more experience that could kind of guide me that would be amazing! Just shoot me a PM if anyone is upto the challenge Game on Apple!
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I don't quite think you understand exactly how complex this is. Emulators and virtualization are typically not even developed by average software engineers/programmers, they're often worked on by people with Ph.Ds in CS and CE.
I'm assuming you want to do a technology like rosetta, which first of all, probably will be extremely difficult, but not impossible, since Apple DOES make Darwin's kernel public... Essentially when an Intel binary were to be launched, you would then have your code launch and translate in real time the instructions as they're being executed. This is an extremely daunting task, and would take MANY years for even a team of professionals to develop. It is definitely NOT a hobby project.
I think the only way a powerpc machine could emulate a x86 for anything important would be using some kind of hardware add on device