@brunoc @thegibson When I was working on my #KestrelComputerProject, before I shut it down, I often described it as a "neo-retro" design. Neo, because it was new from the ground up; but still retro, in that it aimed to preserve the user experience of a "retro" computer while still embracing newer technology.

Along the way, I needed to blog something, and so I created my own blog post wherein I decided to call the act of what I was doing "software survivalism."

So, maybe a good name would be Software Survivalists? Neo-Retro ________ (fill in the blank here) ?

The hands of fate¹ seem to be in a fist fight with the invisible hands of the market again, and it looks like they're going to end up dragging me into another foray that I probably can't afford to be in.

I'm going to need a new name for #KestrelComputerProject .

I'm also going to be needing a website. Getting some inspiration from https://indieweb.org/POSSE .

________

1. Manos has nothing on me.

I am gleefully ignorant of what the latest is with raspberry pi, but reading people's reactions to it makes me wonder if I should resurrect the #KestrelComputerProject under a new name and with a new set of goals.

@renewedrebecca @mos_8502@tech.lgbt In 2004, I made a homebrew 65816-based single-board computer built on Radio Shack breadboards. This was the original Kestrel computer (before it got the -1 suffix, and long before I started on its Kestrel-2 successor). Back then, it also went by a different name: ForthBox, because just like the Jupiter ACE, I wanted it to boot into Forth right from the get-go.

I never finished the complete vision, but I did get working hardware. I've long since lost the photos of the computer, but I was able to transcribe the schematics for it into a modern form and archived it onto Source Hut. See https://git.sr.ht/~vertigo/kestrel-1/tree/main/item/k1-schematics.pdf

Well, 2024 is coming up[1], and I thought it would be nice to finally work to complete the project vision. I've learned a lot since 2004, though, so I'm also updating the design somewhat.

Basically, the #ForthBox is a spin-off of the #KestrelComputerProject , going back to my roots and working to complete what I'd originally set out to make in 2004. A 20th anniversary refresh of the original design, so to speak.

It was to be another SBC which has a 4MHz 65816 (like the original[2]), a VDC-II video controller, and a standard interconnects for keyboard, mouse, and storage devices (think Commodore IEC bus, but both faster and more powerful, as it passes traffic using 9P messages).

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1. Much too fast for my liking, honestly.

2. Mostly determined by physical timing issues at the PCB level.

I literally have no memory of ever doing this. #Forth #KestrelComputerProject

When in the world did I ever manage to write the beginnings of a video game for the Kestrel-2?!

(Looks at video title)

oh...

(attn @neauoire; found this while looking for something else! )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjfF-DBfU9I

Folks interested in my #ForthBox project (nee #KestrelComputerProject 's Kestrel-1), I'm looking for some feedback.

I've written up a small requirements document at https://git.sr.ht/~vertigo/forthbox/tree/spec-configs/item/requirements/01-configs.md

I'm specifically focusing on user experience regarding terminal interface and mass storage at this point.

Let me know what you think. I've never written requirements like this before.

> Going to give a 30-minute or so #SVFIG talk, recalling my work on my very first #KestrelComputerProject -- the Kestrel-1!

Great - needs a #forth I think! And a #wdc65816 perhaps, and therefore a #mos6502 and, finally, a #retrocomputing...

@vertigo