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The article mentions processing.js as a modern equivalent, which it can serve being rather high level and outputting great graphics. But that misses the "close

The article mentions processing.js as a modern equivalent, which it can serve being rather high level and outputting great graphics. But that misses the "close to the machine" aspect of having a computer fully within the control of your hands. Similarly using a web browser and View Source for HTML/CSS+JS was a modern equivalent before we had all the single-page-apps/frameworks that make it incomprehensible. And again the 'machine' is an abstracted web client. The Commander X16 project[0] aims to recreate that environment for modern times (and also available for purchase). It's effectively what a C64 might be today, with more (but still limited) memory and easy to program graphics and sound. Something like a Raspberry Pi 400 looks the part but would end up running something like Linux and OpenGL ES2.0 which isn't much different than a regular desktop. I can't find the original video where I saw the project getting started, but here's a review[1] that runs through what it is. [0] https://www.commanderx16.com/ https://www.commanderx16.com/ [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFIk8WV-RYQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFIk8WV-RYQ

citrin_ru 3y ago
What modern equivalents lack compare to pre-internet computers (including ones which come with BASIC) is a distraction free environment.
AlexeyBrin 3y ago
I think Agon Light or Neo6502 are more affordable and as close to the machine as Commander X16.
- karmakaze 3y ago
  Yeah the Commander X16 isn't the most affordable, but I think it's the most accurate 'retro' machine. Specifically the custom VERA graphics hardware works in ways analogous to the machines of the time with various tile or bitmap modes and sprites. It's also in the 'batteries included' camp with lots of software support to get right into writing programs rather than lower-level tinkering. There's even a full emulator[0] available so you can hack with friends who don't have one, or share your creations to run in the emulator. [0] https://github.com/x16community/x16-emulator https://github.com/x16community/x16-emulator
ikari_pl 3y ago
That's a good point. I focused on this aspect in a much earlier post, so tried to stick to my BASIC vs alternatives investigation here. The fact that the home computers used to be READY to be programmed within a second from powering up, and gave you such an easy access to all basic operations was what was so ... addictive?

citrin_ru 3y ago

What modern equivalents lack compare to pre-internet computers (including ones which come with BASIC) is a distraction free environment.

AlexeyBrin 3y ago

I think Agon Light or Neo6502 are more affordable and as close to the machine as Commander X16.

karmakaze 3y ago
Yeah the Commander X16 isn't the most affordable, but I think it's the most accurate 'retro' machine. Specifically the custom VERA graphics hardware works in ways analogous to the machines of the time with various tile or bitmap modes and sprites. It's also in the 'batteries included' camp with lots of software support to get right into writing programs rather than lower-level tinkering. There's even a full emulator[0] available so you can hack with friends who don't have one, or share your creations to run in the emulator. [0] https://github.com/x16community/x16-emulator https://github.com/x16community/x16-emulator

ikari_pl 3y ago

That's a good point. I focused on this aspect in a much earlier post, so tried to stick to my BASIC vs alternatives investigation here. The fact that the home computers used to be READY to be programmed within a second from powering up, and gave you such an easy access to all basic operations was what was so ... addictive?