Author: Mike Everhart

Linked: Planck 6502 computer

This is a hobby computer based on the 65C02 processor. (I use 6502 and 65C02 interchangeably in this document, but there are some differences)

There are already many computers based on the 6502 processor, old ones such as as the Apple 1, Apple II, Commodore 64 and many more; and many more recent ones, from homebrew affairs on prototype board, to complete replicas of old systems.

The one that most closely resembles the Planck is probably the RC6502, itself based on the RC2014 (which uses a Z80 processor) with adaptations to the expansion bus to make it fit the 6502 processor.

Planck is a new variant on this type of expandable machines with a different set of tradeoffs.

(From: https://planck6502.jfoucher.com/)

I really like the genre of small, hobbyist built computers, especially with a retro vibe. I need to actually learn how to use KiCAD one of these days and start on a similar project.

Linked: Turning an old Amazon Kindle into a eink development platform

I fancied getting an eink screen to use for future projects. I bought a wee one with a raspberry pi “hat” attached. However, I realised later that I could maybe just re-purpose an old Amazon Kindle ebook reader.

(From: https://blog.lidskialf.net/2021/02/08/turning-an-old-kindle-into-a-eink-development-platform/)

This is a good article on repurposing an old Kindle as an e-ink display or development platform. This could be a great way to build the e-ink weather station I’ve had as a project idea. Very cool!

Linked: Microprocessors Running on Air?

There was a time, now forgotten, where the expectations was that computers would run on fluid currents rather than electric currents.

(From: https://erik-engheim.medium.com/microprocessors-running-on-air-a47a702dd41f)

Fascinating! I’d never heard of this technology, but it makes sense and it’s really interesting that it could be useful for computing in ultra-harsh environments like the surface of Venus.

Linked: Pick-and-mix to create your own custom computer on a low-cost FPGA board

Pick-and-mix to create your own custom computer on a low-cost FPGA board
(BASIC, Z80, 6502, 6809, internal/external RAM, serial/keyboard+monitor, SD-card for CP/M or other storage)

…step by step design and implementation

(From: http://www.searle.wales/)

The ZedRipper project I previously linked used some FPGA cores from this project, which is very cool in its own right. I’m looking forward to trying this one someday!

Linked: GitHub – RSD: RISC-V Out-of-Order Superscalar Processor

RSD is a 32-bit RISC-V out-of-order superscalar processor core. RSD is very fast due to aggressive OoO features, while it is very compact and can be synthesized for small FPGAs.

(From: https://github.com/rsd-devel/rsd)

I’m excited about all of the innovation and ongoing development around RISC-V, especially for FPGA implementations and custom chips. The original academic paper for this one (RSD) was published in 2019, but it’s still being actively developed.

Linked: Writing 800kB Mac disks with FluxEngine

I’ve just merged in a change to FluxEngine, my open-source and easy to build USB floppy drive interface, which will let you use it to write Macintosh 800kB GCR disks using a normal PC drive.

(From: http://cowlark.com/2021-01-05-mac-800k-discs/)

This is fantastic! Writing 800k floppies for old Macs that don’t support 1.4 MB floppies has long been a huge problem for the retro Mac community, especially those that don’t have any SuperDrive equipped Macs to be a bridge machine.