XtalJ

9 ms·

1.
by XtalJ 6y ago
I’m working on an open source 3D printed vacuum cleaner robot: https://github.com/CodileAB https://www.instagram.com/wolley.xyz/ I’ve been working with it on and off for two years now and hopefully it
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Show HN: An enclosure for my homebrew Calculon/80 microcomputer(calculon80.j89.se)
4 points by XtalJ 9y ago|0 comments
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by XtalJ 9y ago
Yes, the container tabs are really nice if you want to make tracking harder for advertisers, LinkedIn etc.
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by XtalJ 9y ago
I like the name, it means "Pictures" in Swedish. Is that intended?
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by XtalJ 9y ago
Five years ago, I would have recommended AlphaMail, a service me and some others were building. However, it does no longer exists...
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I totally agree! That is how I did it :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I had the N9 with MeeGo, best OS for phones I have ever used. Also very beautiful and easy to use.
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I was just about to mention Digital Ocean. Very simple and easy, but MySQL is eating all my available memory...
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I see that it could be true for many desktop and mobile phone applications but who should develop the operating systems, embedded applications and backends? It is a full time job just to learn all the programming languages, libraries, frame
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Well, typing is more of a motorical skill than programming. Almost everyone can learn to drive a car (manual gearbox) but the same could not be said for programming where problem solving, logic and intelligence is a must. But with that bein
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Do you mean the text? I was writing the text for me, as some kind of project log. Actually, I found a couple of errors in the design while writing which I wouldn't have found if I haven't written the text. The text may only be int
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Thank you, it was exactly the look I was after :-) But the logo was supposed to be copper but it is "silver". I don't really know why... This was the effect I was looking for: https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com&#x2
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Sound like you have the right mindset ;-) The most boring part of the project was routing of all the bus lines in KiCad, but I knew that if a kept on working, the reward would be big :-) I was actually planning to do a ROM emulator with a P
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Yes :-) Five PCBs cost me $250, but they can be made cheaper. Otherwise the price depends a lot on the components. Ceramic ones are very expensive and the whole computer would probably end up at around $300 - $400. For plastic components, t
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Sounds great :-) Only problem is the "not-so-great" keyboard :-/
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Yes, the programming is the fun part so if you don't want to design a new computer from ground up, a kit or a complete computer is to recommend :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Wow, really cool. Do you have more documentation about the ISA bus implementation? :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Thank you :-) I think that the 68k will be more fun to write OS and other software for as it is 32-bit, has memory protection, and can run UNIX :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
The easiest way is probably to buy an old computer from the eighties, but they can be very expensive :0 I don't know much about other homebrew computers, but mine (Calculon/80) could probably be expanded with those things. I haven
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Thank you, I will write and publish much more documentation as soon as possible :-) It is a four layer PCB, one for Vcc, one for ground and the other two for signals. I designed it in KiCad and ordered it from PCBWay.com. I will also upload
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I have not heard of BLS Pascal, but it is possible to run Turbo Pascal (version 3, I think) on CP/M, which I intend to do when I have the OS in place :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I actually own a Ti-82, but I have never programmed it :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I think maybe the regular black would be more beautiful than the matte black, it wasn't really what I expected. Adding fewer labels makes the task easier for me ;-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
It is a really fun project to do, so I think you should continue :-) I'm going to add more documentation on the website, like timing diagrams etc. that may be useful for other people building a Z80 computer.
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Yes, the composite solutions sounds more fun :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
I think my next project will be a computer based on the 68000 and the ISA bus :-)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Agree, I have the Z-80 Handbook by William Barden, and it is really well written and contains a lot of information without being a tutorial :)
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Nice, I'm thinking about making it possible to connect it directly to a display/TV and keyboard. Now, I have to have a terminal or laptop + terminal emulator.
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My Homebrew Z80 Microcomputer(calculon80.j89.se)
176 points by XtalJ 10y ago|58 comments
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by XtalJ 10y ago
Me too, and it's great and even works on Windows with Babun :-) If I use tmux as window manager, I don't have the problem with installing fluxbox etc. on Windows :-)

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