Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#1

Post by brilee » Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 12:41 PM UTC

Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer
farlow.dev

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#2

Post by kaladin-jasnah » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:00 PM UTC

Hah, I heard about this at VCF East this year, but didn't get to check out the exhibit. There was another MC server demo running on old Macs IIRC. Shame the event was cut short due to a bomb threat.

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#3

Post by proxysna » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:05 PM UTC

What a great write up, and a video too! Even though Minecraft stuff ofc was a bit of a bait, it would be interesting see the answer to "Can it run Doom?".

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#4

Post by caminanteblanco » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:35 PM UTC

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#5

Post by zimpenfish » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:38 PM UTC

proxysna wrote: post #3

What a great write up, and a video too! Even though Minecraft stuff ofc was a bit of a bait, it would be interesting see the answer to "Can it run Doom?".

> a bit of a bait

"a bit" is doing a lot of work there. It was absolute nonsense. They were no closer to running a Minecraft server than I am to running UKGOV.

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#6

Post by voidUpdate » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:40 PM UTC

zimpenfish wrote: post #5

proxysna wrote: post #3

What a great write up, and a video too! Even though Minecraft stuff ofc was a bit of a bait, it would be interesting see the answer to "Can it run Doom?".

> a bit of a bait "a bit" is doing a lot of work there. It was absolute nonsense. They were no closer to running a Minecraft server than I am to running UKGOV.

They hosted a program that allowed minecraft clients to connect... I'd class that as a minecraft server, even if it wasn't a very good one

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#7

Post by proxysna » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:42 PM UTC

voidUpdate wrote: post #6

zimpenfish wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a bit of a bait "a bit" is doing a lot of work there. It was absolute nonsense. They were no closer to running a Minecraft server than I am to running UKGOV.

They hosted a program that allowed minecraft clients to connect... I'd class that as a minecraft server, even if it wasn't a very good one

Yeah, my thought exactly, execution lacked, but i do admire the attempt.

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#8

Post by voidUpdate » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 1:56 PM UTC

proxysna wrote: post #3

What a great write up, and a video too! Even though Minecraft stuff ofc was a bit of a bait, it would be interesting see the answer to "Can it run Doom?".

It could probably run the code for doom, once recompiled for the risc-v emulator, but given that the only output is a paper teletype, displaying it would be a problem

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#9

Post by vaughnegut » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC

Favourite article I've read in a while, what a delight. I wonder what kind of performance you could get if someone hand wrote a dedicated, modern C compiler for it.

Re: Running a Minecraft Server and more on a 1960s UNIVAC Computer

#10

Post by mghackerlady » Tue, Apr 21, 2026, 2:02 PM UTC

I watched the video when it came out, I've been a fan of his stuff for a while. It'd been a while since he uploaded and I was rewatching some of his videos the night before this was uploaded!