The RC2014 Retro Computer • Hacker News Board

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#21

Post by smcl » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 7:57 AM UTC

flomo wrote: post #18

gravypod wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to be able to have the experience of writing all of the code for myself. Just a C compiler and a text editor and needing to build a world around me. Would be fun.

This kit seems very similar to the famous Altair computer which spawned MS-BASIC and CP/M. Anything like Unix and C is not desirable on such a system. Even a 'text editor', as we understand them today, is a reach on such machines. You could build your own world, but you'd probably have to do it writing ASM out by hand and then entering through a cumbersome line editor. For most purposes, that's too hard, so you would…

It's actually pretty surprising how much you can achieve with these 8 bit processors. My favourite example of pushing the 8 bit Arduino processor to the limit is this - 3D rendering at 320x240 x 16 bit: http://hackaday.com/2016/01/02/better-3d-graphics-on-the-ard...

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#22

Post by digi_owl » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 8:12 AM UTC

jhallenworld wrote: post #5

The P112 kit seems better... http://661.org/p112 It's a nice cp/m kit and can also run a version of UNIX http://p112.sourceforge.net/uzidoc.html

Never mind Alan Cox's Fuzix project.

https://github.com/EtchedPixels/FUZIX

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#23

Post by endgame » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 8:37 AM UTC

FTA:

> There were no notes on what resistors to fit - so I had to refer back to the schematic on the modules section of the RC2014 site. From here I was able to confirm that they were 2K2 and also note the orientation. it's easy to get the one on the left of the FTDI header in the wrong orientation.

Did resistors become polarised when I wasn't looking?

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#24

Post by DanBC » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 8:42 AM UTC

endgame wrote: post #23

FTA: > There were no notes on what resistors to fit - so I had to refer back to the schematic on the modules section of the RC2014 site. From here I was able to confirm that they were 2K2 and also note the orientation. it's easy to get the one on the left of the FTDI header in the wrong orientation. Did resistors become polarised when I wasn't looking?

> Did resistors become polarised when I wasn't looking?

Some of the resistors are mounted vertically. Getting these the right way round is only important so other components physically fit on the board.

I think the FTDI header has resistors that would interfere with an IC socket.

EDIT: And it's nice to use a consistent orientation so it's easier to read the values so it's easier to check your work.

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#25

Post by dmytroi » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 8:42 AM UTC

endgame wrote: post #23

FTA: > There were no notes on what resistors to fit - so I had to refer back to the schematic on the modules section of the RC2014 site. From here I was able to confirm that they were 2K2 and also note the orientation. it's easy to get the one on the left of the FTDI header in the wrong orientation. Did resistors become polarised when I wasn't looking?

Probably just so they look better in the final build.

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#26

Post by ianlevesque » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 9:01 AM UTC

coderjames wrote: post #9

My home-brew 68K machine just recently reached the same level of completeness except for the particular BASIC implementation (Tiny vs. Microsoft). Guess I should get it written up as a blog post or three.

Please do!

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#27

Post by darfs » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 9:02 AM UTC

tluyben2 wrote: post #7

gravypod wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to be able to have the experience of writing all of the code for myself. Just a C compiler and a text editor and needing to build a world around me. Would be fun.

It is fun: but I like this kind Bonzai tree thing which is not pactical but a relaxing but challenging experience. And it feel really nice to actually really understand everything for a change.

Any suggestions for something like that? I would love that feel too :-)

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#28

Post by hoodoof » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 9:32 AM UTC

Marazan wrote: post #19

hoodoof wrote: post #16

Are these real 8 bit CPUs or are they incredibly powerful modern CPUs emulating 8 bit?

Real, the Z80 has been continually produced for decades now.

Which companies make them? I'd be interested to read the specs page for modern Z80 or 6502 CPUs.

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#29

Post by _b8r0 » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 9:32 AM UTC

jhallenworld wrote: post #12

People should make more 6809 kit computers.. So for example, then you can run OS-9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OS-9 and emulate an 8080 to run CP/M: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiwmUnLTcjY

I'm just asking, why take that approach vs just building a Z80-based system to run CP/M?

Re: The RC2014 Retro Computer

#30

Post by 2sk21 » Sun, Jun 19, 2016, 9:33 AM UTC

sowbug wrote: post #13

A 6502 backplane homebrew: http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=680 . Especially impressive because Quinn etched the PCBs at home. Fast-forward to the finished (and resurrected) project so you can see the backplane: http://quinndunki.com/blondihacks/?p=2644

Amazed and happy to see so much homebrew work still going on. The Veronica project on this site is fascinating.