Blog · corpus.blog/blogs/michaeldoornbos.com/posts
michaeldoornbos.com
michaeldoornbos.com
2023
At Commodore in 1982, someone was like "let's make a knockoff, but should we at least make it look and sound like it's not at knockoff?" Nahhh, ship it!original ↗
4 Aug 2023
I'm sitting here realizing that I don't actually know how to send a high res screen on the VIC-20 to a printer. Hmmm.original ↗
4 Aug 2023
More than one person called me out for using Python to make my Commodore screen grid. Assembly is easy enough, but I already had my SuperExpander out for another project. I had both it and SIMON's BASIC in the 80s, so I'm calling it "fair to use" as it's authentic to my childhoodoriginal ↗
2 Aug 2023
So I'm to understand that everyone doesn't write Python programs to generate 40x25 sheets to lay out vintage computer screen ideas on Tuesday nights. Apparently just me. Okay then. ;-)original ↗
1 Aug 2023
Hi res 10 Print style render inspired by @8BitShowAndTell this morning. Takes a lot of Mississippi’s to finish the whole screen.original ↗
1 Aug 2023
Looking through my photos and noticed this strange nighttime glitch shot of the Adler Planetarium from a boat in the harbor. Trying to figure out how this happened but it’s kinda neat.original ↗
1 Aug 2023
I want to use a PET to explain simple shift ciphers. The challenge is comparing the current and standard English distribution with only 40x25 characters. Two graphs on the screen would be better. Giving it another think because I'm not happy with this.original ↗
31 Jul 2023
I’m thinking maybe a PET theme for August. Haven’t had the MiniPET out in a while so I’ll start with that.original ↗
30 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023
27 Jul 2023
I’ve reached that part of my career where I’m supposed to write my own FORTH which is what FORTH is best at.original ↗
27 Jul 2023
Finally repaired my beloved Sharp 9300(from High School) so it’s in today’s episode of stupid races between old computery things. Fibonacci to 35 and the VIC-20 still wins. Good effort though.original ↗
25 Jul 2023
I use cartridge port expanders quite a bit. I don’t have much use past 2 ports on either the Commodore 64 or VIC-20. I kinda want to see if I can devise a memory map setup on the VIC-20 to use all 5 slots. For science.original ↗
25 Jul 2023
Found this in a box. I wonder what it is a backup of. Don’t have a drive to read it anyway.original ↗
24 Jul 2023
24 Jul 2023
I have a friend who wants to start a new business with me. He just sent me mock-ups hand drawn on graph paper. This is my love language.original ↗
23 Jul 2023
22 Jul 2023
Okay, FORTH language people, what problem areas is FORTH particularly well suited for? I'm past the super beginner stages and ready to apply it to a problem area to see how I feel about it.original ↗
20 Jul 2023
20 Jul 2023
Four mile walk and wrote 833 more words on a position paper for a DevSecOps industry strategy before 8am so I rewarded myself with a random game on the VIC-20. Rod's Random Runner Picked Splatform which is one of my favorites. What are the chances?! Happy Wednesday!original ↗
19 Jul 2023
I’m sure quite a few people were sitting sipping some morning coffee, wondering if there was a good cheat sheet for SpeedScript. Well, Compute Gazette May 1987 has your solution. Happy Tuesday!original ↗
18 Jul 2023
Mint in the box. And certified for freshness. Maybe there’s some 1990s air trapped inside.original ↗
17 Jul 2023
Sure it's crazy easy to create visuals these days, but why did it somehow used to seem cooler even if it's not as accurate?original ↗
17 Jul 2023
17 Jul 2023
15 Jul 2023
Made a minor adjustment to get the 10PRINT in Forth from @8BitShowAndTell 's 64FORTH video adapted to VICFORTH on the Commodore VIC-20. Using VICFORTH itself as the source of randomness which starts at $A000 on the VIC. Nifty.original ↗
13 Jul 2023
This is a quirky and interesting Forth implementation. Gonna try some frequency distribution on it to see if it'll work for some of my silly crypto on 8 Bit workoriginal ↗
12 Jul 2023
Still my favorite writing setup (besides a typewriter). HP Thin Client I paid $10 for running DOS and WordPerfect 6. I use a 3.5 inch floppy drive to move documents on and off of it just because I like it.original ↗
12 Jul 2023
I’d like to announce that I’m also forking RedHat. I’m starting with a slightly earlier version (the last time it was good).original ↗
11 Jul 2023
Whelp, this is a good start. I have two working spares. Now to wire it up on a breadboard to reverse engineer. But first, we read the datasheets! #RTFMoriginal ↗
10 Jul 2023
Sigh. Mounted my Corsham KIM-1 clone on plexiglass. Had this project on my list for months and cracked it on the last hole. Can’t win em all.original ↗
10 Jul 2023
10 Jul 2023
And now we do the dance of joy. A lot of folks are into this new Cart for the games, but I’m here for this menu.original ↗
6 Jul 2023
Confession. Sometimes I use a 1541-II with a VIC-20 because I’m too lazy to look through storage boxes.original ↗
3 Jul 2023
I love that @ben_eater is doing a deep dives into Wozmon. Been in my KIM-1 toolbox for some time. Amazing how much is packed into less than 256 bytes of code. Doing another month of my Corsham KIM-1 on my desk in memory of it's late creator Bob Applegate who passed last month.original ↗
1 Jul 2023
Working on my VCS cartridge collection. I vividly remember selling ours at a garage sale in the late 80s. Definitely need Pitfall next. Happy Friday.original ↗
30 Jun 2023
30 Jun 2023
I am working on the VIC chip replacement project this morning. The color palette is tricky on VIC-20s. Spending a lot of time building resistor ladders with available values to try and get it closer. Why did I insist on this being composite out? VGA would be done by now.original ↗
29 Jun 2023
I can do a real Rubik's cube in about 2 minutes, but this version takes me so much longer. Happy Wednesday! #commodore #vic20original ↗
28 Jun 2023
The latest Ultimate II+ and Ultimate 64 firmware supports 128k cartridges. Naturally the first one I have to run through its paces is Snappy ;-) #commodoreoriginal ↗
26 Jun 2023
It’s Monday morning and I realized I’ve not done 10PRINT on this AIM 65 clone yet. There, universe is no longer tilted.original ↗
26 Jun 2023
What is it about calculations in columns on a monochrome screen like a Commodore PET that’s so appealing? I can’t put my finger on it, but it just makes me smile. Happy Friday!original ↗
23 Jun 2023
Haven’t used my One Time Pad helper for the Commodore in a while. Broke it out tonight to work on performance improvements. Getting zippy.original ↗
21 Jun 2023
Interesting… so I had to use an Intel Mac to build it, but it RUNS just fine on my M1 Mac. So there’s now a MacOS version of @HansOtten KIM-1 simulator now that’s caught up with the most current version. Not bad for a long lunch break side quest.original ↗
19 Jun 2023
I've built @HansOtten 's KIM-1 Simulator for Mac (Intel... Atom doesn't work AT ALL). Now I need to figure out how to make a script into a .app file on Mac so he can distribute it.original ↗
19 Jun 2023
Picking up where I left off on the VIC-20 6560/1 replacement project. It’s still working after having been in storage so that’s a good start.original ↗
19 Jun 2023
My pocket chip still boots. This was a good project and I’m sad it didn’t make it in the long run.original ↗
18 Jun 2023
Broke out my hash collider program on the Commodore 64 this morning. You know, science n stuff.original ↗
17 Jun 2023
I just found out that Bob Applegate passed away on Tuesday. I only knew Bob through email exchanges, but he was wonderful to correspond with. I'm going to spend the next weeks with my KIM-1 Clone, in remembrance. Godspeed Bob.original ↗
15 Jun 2023
Having a hard time finding anything interesting lately. I’m gonna put the 6502 cluster away and try something else.original ↗
14 Jun 2023
One of my side quests this week is to thoroughly clean this guy and work a little on the video output. Then it'll be ready to write a novel on. Chicklet keys are so smooth for long typing sessions.original ↗
12 Jun 2023
Today’s lunchtime learn something new is sorting out all of the Rockwell AIM 65 monitor commands. The built in assembler is pretty good. Happy Wednesday!original ↗
24 May 2023
23 May 2023
I've loved fixing things as long as I can remember. Instead of a lunch break, I'm fixing two keyboards. Not just any keyboards, the BEST keyboards. Happy Monday!original ↗
22 May 2023
22 May 2023
10 years ago today I witnessed a hit and run which resulted in an elderly couple being stuck in their car which caught fire. Manager at the restaurant across the street was pretty upset when I stole their fire extinguisher to put the fire out. I guess that Navy DC training stuck.original ↗
19 May 2023
When you get a new to me breadbin Commodore 64 (the best computer ever made) from @K0FFY_Radio you get dot matrix letters AND an unexpected software bonus. Woot!original ↗
17 May 2023
Taking the printer interface on the AIM 65 clone for a test drive. A sine wave should do the trickoriginal ↗
17 May 2023
I don’t have diabetes, but I’m a health data nerd. For the next 14 days I’m wearing a Freestyle Libre CGM. They say it takes a bit be accurate. Let’s hope that’s true because compared to a finger prick meter (which is pretty accurate) it’s not even close.original ↗
13 May 2023
I’m on the prowl for this book. Physical or scanned electronic. There’s a copy on Archive.org but it’s not downloadable. Check your attics and basementsoriginal ↗
12 May 2023
Package arrived from Japan today. I’m super excited to be a small part of this project. AIM-65 clone for the win!original ↗
11 May 2023
Writing mirrors thought. Outsourcing it to AI may sideline our cognitive engagement. I value AI's potential yet value intellectual growth for people. Use AI to help cure cancer (or MS), but do not stop thinking and creating. Also, quit being lazy; it makes you boring.original ↗
11 May 2023
I found a tube with 8 old school 6551’s in it. I’m running the 6502 cluster nodes at 1.843Mhz so I needed the “AP” model which is what I have. Sooo much easier when you’re trying to multiplex 5 serial devices to not have that transmit bug and delay math in the newer model. Woot!original ↗
10 May 2023
Still lots of work to do on the job scheduling and "worker node" software side for sure, but my 6502 Cubesat sized "cluster" is up and running on a VIC-20 controller node. Not a bad cap to the week. Happy Friday!original ↗
5 May 2023
Been obsessed with James Nestor's book on Breath for the last week or so. Wanted to dive into learning Vue, so here's my simple Breathe app to reset my breath throughout the day.original ↗
3 May 2023
That’s the best packed and shipped old book I’ve bought in a long time. Bravo random eBay seller.original ↗
1 May 2023
Nothing says “easy to read” like a VIC-20 serial program in 40 column mode connecting to a remote BASIC machine. I mean, it takes up almost 2/3 of the screen. Plenty of room ;-) I do have a Commodore 128 with a very good 80 column display, but who wants this stuff to be easy?original ↗
1 May 2023
This is turning out even better than I hoped. Three 6502 cluster nodes and their serial multiplexer are now hardware complete + tested on their Commodore 64 controller. Hard part is next: writing software. Is VERY close to cubesat sized so now my brain is whirling about that ideaoriginal ↗
28 Apr 2023
I’ve had a working “world’s worst paper tape reader” for a year now. Where does the time go?original ↗
28 Apr 2023
Moving my serial multiplexer hack to a more permanent ish setup. I really dig these gold and black proto boards.original ↗
27 Apr 2023
I want to stack my 6502 cluster nodes to save space. They have standard motherboard mounting holes on all four corners. Thoughts on how to mount them about 5cm apart 3 to 5 boards high? It’s for science so….original ↗
27 Apr 2023
Who has a primer on sizing pull up and pull down resistors? These work but I just guessed.original ↗
26 Apr 2023