Blog · corpus.blog/blogs/michaeldoornbos.com/posts
michaeldoornbos.com
michaeldoornbos.com
2023
My current build project is getting a little out of control. I’m gonna need a bigger house.original ↗
25 Apr 2023
Everyone but me at my company is at RSA in San Francisco. I was invited but declined. For reasons :)original ↗
24 Apr 2023
Flash, insert, test, remove, and reflash are time-consuming. I picked up this ROM emulator to shorten that test cycle on the 6502 Cluster nodes, probably 10x. Less than a week (probably) from having the whole cluster setup first run. Happy Friday!original ↗
21 Apr 2023
All three 6502 cluster nodes are assembled and tested. Next up is to mount them on something and then devise a way of connecting them together and to a control mode (leaning Commodore 64 for that). Then we can calculate all the things.original ↗
20 Apr 2023
Got all three of these boards, two 6502 single board computers (blue)and a bazillion pin FPGA (green) all set up to be soldered on the bottom here. I’m counting 712 pins to solder this evening.original ↗
19 Apr 2023
19 Apr 2023
Shout out to @HansOtten for pointing me in the right direction to get the 68b50 ACIA sorted out on my Corsham KIM-1 clone. The retro community is awesome. Actually could be an interesting choice for the Control Node on my 6502 cluster system. Hmm…original ↗
18 Apr 2023
It’s tax day in the US. One of my least favorite things on earth. Using paper forms and public school handwriting for said forms feels right. For reasons.original ↗
18 Apr 2023
Weeding this evening and had to get the long weed puller from the garage. If you’re not familiar, that’s Poison Sumac. Makes Poison Ivy/Oak seem tame. I would not recommend using the leaves as a facial cleanser.original ↗
15 Apr 2023
Got EhBASIC ported to the second half of the ROM (it’s on a switch). First 6502 cluster node is now complete. Time to build the other two. Happy Friday!original ↗
14 Apr 2023
Got UART working on the first try on a 6502 Compute Cluster Node. No OS, these just run straight machine code. Might make up for yesterday's snafu. Maybe ;-) Happy Thursday!original ↗
13 Apr 2023
You ever spend several hours trying to connect a VIC-20 to multiple serial terminals (troubleshooting) before you realize that the null modem connector isn’t… you know… connected between them? No, just me? Alright then.original ↗
12 Apr 2023
Finally picked up a physical copy of this book. I had it in the 80s, but who knows where that copy ended up. I have the wrong computer on my desk today though :)original ↗
12 Apr 2023
First of my 6502 cluster nodes is online. Occurred to me that I need to decide which Commodore model will be the control nodes for these little guys.original ↗
10 Apr 2023
It was hard to get a FlipperZero in the US for a while. Mine just arrived. Time to hack all the things ;)original ↗
9 Apr 2023
I don’t need the LED matrix built into this FPGA board but I might as well have some fun with it.original ↗
3 Apr 2023
Pre ordered this January 3rd and it was released today. Time to sharpen the pencil and take notes.original ↗
28 Mar 2023
Changing it up on my desk this week. Going nifty clones of 70s computers for a change of pace.original ↗
27 Mar 2023
25 Mar 2023
23 Mar 2023
Using my super scientific method of just placing parts on the PCB to inventory I see that I have enough of the expensive parts to build 3 nodes of my 6502 cluster to start. Happy Wednesday!original ↗
22 Mar 2023
Finally. A cheap and small FPGA dev board with more than enough easy to access IO pins. Open source tool chain is a must for me. I’m gonna need a few more of these ;)original ↗
19 Mar 2023
18 Mar 2023
Out of all of the dystopian futures in Science Fiction, it's disappointing that the most accurate one was Wall-E.original ↗
16 Mar 2023
I bought a single 2SC1959 transistor and don’t remember why. Extra weird because I keep pretty good notes about my 57 ongoing projects. Hmmoriginal ↗
16 Mar 2023
16 Mar 2023
16 Mar 2023
15 Mar 2023
Ahh, that's better. The correct position of this toggle for this guy is off. I'll do my own summaries thank you.original ↗
15 Mar 2023
14 Mar 2023
12 Mar 2023
If I view this Commodore PET picture on a C64, does that break the space-time continuum? The picture itself represents the very moment computing peaked. Long slide into mediocre since then. Happy Friday!original ↗
10 Mar 2023
9 Mar 2023
The PET Diagnostic boards designed by Sven Peterson arrived and I just realized I have the BOM loaded in a shopping cart but never actually pressed “submit order”. This is what happens when you have too many simultaneous projects.original ↗
8 Mar 2023
Back in the saddle on the VIC chip replacement. Today I’m implementing the internal registers. Nice (but slow) progress. I’ve decided not to bother with implementing interlacing on the first version. #commodore #vic20 #vicsrevengeoriginal ↗
7 Mar 2023
Anyone else have several VIC-20s with test clips more or less permanently attached? No? Just me. Okay then.original ↗
4 Mar 2023
Happy Friday. Time for some Blinkenlights! Here's a couple of LED patterns on the VIC-20 and PAL-1 (KIM-1) clone.original ↗
3 Mar 2023
VIC Chip "drop in" replacement work this evening and got distracted. Why make a simple drawing in your notebook when you can have a VIC-20 do it? Back off, man; I'm a scientist.original ↗
28 Feb 2023
Finally got around to assembling the PAL-1 gadgets. Can an office have TOO MANY blinkenlights? I don’t think so. Might use this with my “worlds worst paper tape reader” setup.original ↗
28 Feb 2023
Happy Tuesday. You don’t have to be angry on the internet today. Just do cool stuff and share it. Repeat.original ↗
28 Feb 2023
I've had the Numworks calculator for a couple years now. I find myself reaching for it more often lately. The base conversions are easy to access, and it sure is fast.original ↗
24 Feb 2023
I need to wait to do the final touches until Oscar sends me the correct LED bracket but it went together nicely. Happy Friday !original ↗
17 Feb 2023
Getting back to my drop in VIC 6560/1 replacement for the VIC-20. Broke out the big guns textbook to get my mind back in the right space. #vicsrevenge #commodoreoriginal ↗
16 Feb 2023
Whelp I was going to assemble my PiDP-8 but it looks like the wrong LED bracket was included. That’s the PDP-11 light layout. Whoopsie. I can get the rest of it up and running, but won’t be able to complete the assembly without it.original ↗
15 Feb 2023
Asked over the weekend what the most difficult thing I've done in Assembly was. SHA-256 isn't the longest program I've done, but it was the most difficult to date. It's pretty fast which makes it extra neato to me. #commodoreoriginal ↗
13 Feb 2023
Had an altercation with a deer a few weeks ago. Took the opportunity to do a little customization on the front end of my truck. Basic dude stuff.original ↗
11 Feb 2023
10 Feb 2023
I made a gallon of sauerkraut for 79 cents (that’s a quart jar next to it with granola in it). Add this to the long list of things I don’t buy at the store any more.original ↗
8 Feb 2023
8 Feb 2023
So... I find myself in need of a PDP-8 simulator/emulator. Uncharted territory for me, but it's for science so...original ↗
7 Feb 2023
Thinking about starting a new podcast. Might as do some dry run recordings to work out topics and format. Happy Monday.original ↗
6 Feb 2023
I have one of the few Snappy prototype carts in the wild. Doing the ROM upgrade today (it’s 128k) so it’ll be Turbo Macro Pro, REU and enhanced Super Snapshot happy time in my office this week. #commodoreoriginal ↗
5 Feb 2023
I was looking for a ribbon cable after my morning workout and found a shortwave radio I don’t remember acquiring. It’s neat but they sure looked cooler in the 70s.original ↗
3 Feb 2023
Can you imagine having resources like this for modern computers? Nothing even close exists. #commodoreoriginal ↗
2 Feb 2023
2 Feb 2023
Breaking down someone else’s old assembly code that I converted into Turbo Macro Pro format. Surely I’m not the only person who would rather reverse engineer assembly by printing it out right? #commodore #6502foreveroriginal ↗
1 Feb 2023
1 Feb 2023
Converting my favorite Maze program from Machine Language to Turbo Macro Pro. Wouldn't be complete without a machine code vs BASIC speed comparison. You know, for science. Article on how this one works by the weekend. Probably. #commodoreoriginal ↗
31 Jan 2023
31 Jan 2023
30 Jan 2023
Converting a handful of servers this morning from Ubuntu to Debian. 18+ years and I've had enough.original ↗
30 Jan 2023
This is a common practice for @FedEx around here. I’ve been on my driveway for the last 90 minutes so this reason is completely made up. You know hat would be better (besides actually delivering)? The truth. Poor form FedEx.original ↗
29 Jan 2023
28 Jan 2023
Thinking about how I want to connect this Simple I/O board to my PAL-1 (KIM-1 clone). 18 pin IDC cable might be the cleanest and most flexible option. #commodore #deepthoughtswithmichaeloriginal ↗
27 Jan 2023
On today's episode of "learn something every day," I did an LFSR on an IceStick FPGA. Pretty straightforward. Tomorrow I'll do an LCG and put them together to get a terrible Pseudo Random Number Generator. You know, for science.original ↗
26 Jan 2023
25 Jan 2023
Young person I'm mentoring in math and computers wants to learn how mazes work. Printing values on a simple program on a slow computer is by far the best way to explain this. He got it immediately, plus it's a cool visual. Happy Monday! #commodoreoriginal ↗
23 Jan 2023
21 Jan 2023
It’s difficult to understate how much better the left one is over the right one. The VIC-20 guide launched me on a career path and a lifelong love of learning. Crazy how the right book at the right time can steer someone. I was 6 in 1981. #commodoreoriginal ↗
20 Jan 2023
I have a number of C64s but only one is PAL. Happens to be a 64C. Gonna keep this one on my desk for the next week or so. For science. #commodoreoriginal ↗
19 Jan 2023
17 Jan 2023
I’ve been wearing an Oura ring for 3 or 4 years now. This is the highest sleep score I’ve ever gotten.original ↗
17 Jan 2023
We moved in 1981, so I can pretty confidently put this in 1980 based on the furniture and room. My Dad got it as a gift, but it had a much bigger impact on me than him.original ↗
15 Jan 2023
Okay 80s fans, anyone else as obsessed with Robo Force as I was in 1984? I really should not be allowed on eBay…original ↗
15 Jan 2023
Always had these memories of a space plane I had as a kid, but I could not remember what it was called. Today I found a picture of the Christmas unopened it and a clear shot of the box. I’m not going to look on eBay. Nope, not this guy.original ↗
14 Jan 2023
Solving problems for fun with 3583 bytes of memory has made me dramatically better at my day job. Embrace constraints.original ↗
13 Jan 2023