I write about the past, present, and future of technology across three sites. imapenguin.com explores retro computing and programming fundamentals, milkcrunch.com covers modern software development and engineering culture, and evadot.com examines commercial spaceflight and the new space movement.
Posts
- I'm doing a Pi computation demo over the weekend for some young people and want to do a couple on Vintage machines. Then I remembered that @8BitShowAndTell did one with Logo graphically. Perfect, I shall borrow (steal) Robin's demo as well.
- Just renewed my HAM radio license. N4LNX lives on for another 10 years ;-)
- Earlier today I was annoyed when my truck’s software served me a damn ad. Then I remembered the flier in Pirates Cove from 1980. I guess this isn’t a terribly new idea. Be careful Chevy, or I’ll replace that software with a VIC 20
- This little bastard was causing all kinds of gremlins to intermittently appear. Crazy how much better things run if the power into the board is clean.
- Chased down a VIC-20 flickering screen for quite some time. Came down to this solder joint being weak. Reflowed it and all better
- Finally properly badged. This is easily my favorite piece of “modern” hardware
- Phew, this board is a mess. 3 bodges so far and here are the next 4.
- Such a great series. I wish I had read these back then, but there’s no time like the present.
- Pretty good lake view in the distance from our hotel room this weekend.
- Here's a fun one. Another friend brought over a 128. It started up but it was acting really strange. Probed a couple voltages and they came in at 4.1... Deoxit in the power switch and its fixed. I'm basically a wizard.
- Actually really busy with day job today, but had a 10 minute break and decided to put a 128 back together. I spent more than a minute scratching my head on a U4 failure message. Maybe I no fix hardware today huh? Sheesh
- Morning workout math:
- My CERBERUS 2080 Boards came today from @JLCPCB and look great. A couple of these chips are backordered but I'm really looking forward to getting this working. I had to order 5...
- I am looking for a manual or documentation for Vickit 4+5 on the @futurewas8bit Penultimate cart. Anyone have it handy? #commodore
- Running the 8 Bit Show and Tell VIC-20 Super Expander Programming Challenge on the Commodore 64 · imapenguin
- Working on the Retro pinout project a little at a time. 128 pins captured and about 4500 to go. Thanks to all who have offered to help so far.
- The retro pinout project · imapenguin
- My new open source project: Collecting scope outputs on every IC on retro computer boards. I'll need lots of help from the community
- I went right to getting the VIC working yesterday and am just now getting to the bucket of other stuff @TheGavNinja sent me. Lots to check out #commodore
- These are the chips getting the dreaded X on them just from this evening. Sheesh