#retro-computing

Tiny Emulators is a collection of minimal, web-based system emulators (like the Z80 and 6502) built by Andre Weissflog (floooh). The page provides interactive, browser-run emulators that let users explore and experiment with classic CPU architectures in a compact and accessible way.

Windows 95 used a set of heuristics to determine whether a running program was a setup program. These heuristics included checking file attributes like the presence of a setup logo bitmap or specific version information.

A look at early Mac app icons shows Apple's convention of tilted rectangles and a hand icon. The author traces how this faded as users adapted, with apps like TeachText and Font/DA Mover breaking the mold, arguing that mandating design rules differs from organic adoption.

The article describes the challenges of installing Windows 98 on a modern PC built with 2014-era hardware, including issues with drivers, USB support, large hard drives, and the lack of legacy BIOS compatibility, highlighting the difficulties of retro computing on contemporary systems.

The 86Box project, an emulator for early x86 PCs, has issued a call for help due to a lack of active developers. The project's current maintainer is working alone and struggling to keep up with bug fixes, code reviews, and releases. Without new contributors, the project warns it may face an uncertain future or could eventually shut down.

A developer has created a PostgreSQL extension that loads Commodore 64 BASIC, allowing users to write stored procedures and functions using the retro BASIC v2.0 language directly within the database.

The article explores the history of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the company that created the Altair 8800, widely considered the first personal computer. It details how MITS started building electronic kits for hobbyists, such as calculators and model rocket telemetry systems, before creating the Altair in 1975, which sparked the home computer revolution.

Tiny-C is a minimal subset of the C programming language designed as a teaching tool for compiler courses. The reference manual excerpt covers syntax and semantics, including program structure, statements, expressions, and the simplified type system, aiming to provide a foundation for understanding compilers without the complexity of full C.

The article reflects nostalgically on early web forums, arguing that their messy, community-driven format fostered genuine connection and discussion, contrasting with the polished but algorithm-controlled social media platforms of today.

A post on X (formerly Twitter) states that Unicode can be made to work on the DOS operating system.

HamsterOS is a lightweight 32-bit GUI operating system designed to fit entirely on a single 1.44 MB floppy disk, targeting 386-era hardware and DOS machines. The retro OS aims to provide an easy-to-use interface for legacy systems.

The article details a project to recreate the fictional LCARS computer interface from Star Trek using the C programming language, including voice interaction capabilities, built entirely from scratch.

Apricot Computers was a British brand that produced innovative PCs in the 1980s and early 1990s, including the Apricot PC and Apricot Portable. Despite pioneering features like graphical user interfaces and mouse input, the company struggled to compete with larger rivals like IBM and eventually faded from the market.

Jacob Gold describes using a "Nano Banana Pro" device to view historical satellite imagery and witness changes to Earth's surface over time, offering a unique perspective on environmental and urban development from the past.

Hatari is a web-based online emulator for Atari ST, STE, TT, and Falcon computer systems, allowing users to run classic Atari software directly in a browser without needing local installation.

The article discusses the Commodore Amiga's significant role in European techno and hardcore dance music scenes during the 1990s, highlighting its use for music production and its cultural impact on dancefloors across the continent.

The author argues that pervasive internet surveillance and data collection have become so intrusive that they are regressing to 1990s-era computing habits—using offline tools, local storage, and avoiding cloud services—as a way to reclaim privacy and control over personal data.

HamsterOS is a tiny graphical desktop operating system designed to fit entirely on a single 1.44MB floppy disk, complete with a window manager, applications, and a file system. Despite its extreme size constraints, it offers a functional GUI environment reminiscent of early desktop operating systems.

A developer describes how to build the open-source game Principia for Windows XP, detailing the technical challenges and modifications needed to achieve compatibility with the legacy operating system.

The video documents the process of building a memory device from scratch, covering the construction of core memory using ferrite cores and copper wire, as well as related concepts like decoders and sense amplifiers.

The article discusses running Visual Basic on a PC with Windows 3.1, covering the development environment and its capabilities in the early 1990s.

A blogger details their efforts to get OpenBSD running on a Lemote Yeeloong laptop, a MIPS-based machine built around the Chinese-designed Loongson processor. They describe the system's history and the practical workarounds needed to use this unusual hardware with a modern open-source operating system.

The Space Shuttle's I/O Processor (IOP) used a barrel processor architecture with 25 virtual processors and two instruction sets to handle 24 data bus networks. Circuit boards from the IOP show custom Motorola chips for Manchester encoding, hybrid analog modules, and fusible-link PROM chips storing microcode.

The author details their experience installing SerenityOS, a Unix-like operating system with its own kernel and GUI, on a vintage ThinkPad T60 laptop. They document the installation process, hardware compatibility, and overall system performance on the older machine.

A developer released an open-source implementation of MUMPS-76, a historic programming language and database system often considered the original NoSQL database, to mark its anniversary. The project aims to faithfully recreate the 1976 specification on modern systems.

The article discusses techniques for preparing sprite graphics on the ZX Spectrum, covering tools, constraints, and workflows for creating pixel art optimized for the system's hardware limitations.

The article discusses installing and running OpenBSD on a Lemote Yeeloong laptop, a MIPS-based system using a Loongson processor. It covers the challenges of working with the device's limited hardware and open-source firmware, detailing workarounds for graphics, networking, and power management to achieve a functional Unix-like environment.

The Old Computer Challenge is an event where participants use vintage or low-powered computers for a week to reduce digital distractions and experience computing with constraints. It encourages exploring older hardware and software, and reflecting on modern technology use.

The article covers the A2FPGA VidEX-01, an enhancement card that added a high-resolution 80-column display and improved video capabilities to the Apple II, transforming it from a home computer into a machine capable of serious productivity tasks like word processing and business applications.

The author recounts their first experience with an Atari ST, describing how they acquired the computer in 1986 and the impact it had on their early computing and gaming life. They detail the machine's specifications, its role in music and desktop publishing, and their transition from the Commodore 64 to the Atari platform.