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
RSS- In case you were wondering, SIMON'S BASIC modulus is 16 bit. Imma need to implement my own to do the next cipher which needs at least 2^24 to match my assembly version
- Oh my, what have I started?
- This cheat sheet gets a lot of use these days
- 15 years after we landed on the moon, a Commodore 64 running BASIC could find the prime numbers between 1 and 10000 in 16 minutes. Same algorithm in Python on a MacBook: 0.04 seconds. Rust: 0.002 seconds. What are you doing with this power? Nothing. Lame.
- This satellite tracker is very cool. You have to hand enter the TLE data which isn't a big deal. It's in BASIC though so just oh so slow ;-) #commodore #c64 #hamradio
- Gonna try to do a Commodore 64 to Commodore 64 Packet session THROUGH the ISS with @K0FFY_Radio. The only thing I was missing was a TNC, so I picked this one up that's a HAT for a Raspberry Pi. If it works, it'll be nice and portable.
- Loving the collaboration between @DarrenFouldsand @8BitShowAndTell so much it’s my office theme today. Even running on a real floppy for the occasion.
- Made a Python, Assembly and BASIC version of RC4 encryption on old computers. Other than questioning my existence on earth for a few days in the process, it went swimmingly!
- Making and breaking Ciphers on the Commodore 64 Part 8 – RC4 · imapenguin
- Oh. My. God. THIS mistake took me hours to see. HOURS. Okay, NOW I have a working RC4 in Python, Commodore BASIC, and Commodore Assembly. I need a drink.
- RC4 in Assembly is still kicking my butt. This is close but wrong. The python and BASIC versions took and hour, I don't know how long I've been at this version this week, but I still don't have it. Sigh.
- Trying out a thing on Fridays I'm currently calling "The Nostalgia Files". In this first one I reveal my favorite book of all time.
- The Nostalgia Files: My all time favorite book · imapenguin
- RC4 in assembly... stuck on the nested loops with a double position swap. This one is making my brain hurt. I’m sure it will seem obvious once I get it but I’m putting it down for the evening.
- Some new additions to our library
- 10 minute before work progress: Confirmed this is a working RC4 in BASIC with both a standard library and my python version. Assembly version is already about 60% complete. My first real stream cipher... super happy at the moment.
- Am a little stuck with the next few ciphers so I’m turning to Bruce. This book weighs like 19 pounds. Light bedtime reading.
- Repairing a Commodore 128 and DIY Chris's RAM tester review · imapenguin
- My controversial stance on modding retro hardware: I'm fine with modern drop in functional equivalents, but I don't want a replacement that implements extra features. I want the original experience extended past the life of some of the components
- Way fewer people will read my long form posts than watch a video, but Reason number 27 why I put the bulk of my effort into long form posts on a platform I have full control over: