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#altair8800 — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #altair8800, aggregated by home.social.

  1. Tested various micros running this FLOATING POINT program. It derives Pi to 20 decimal places. Interesting stats.

    1 N=20: L=INT(10*N/3): DIM A(255): Z$="000000":T$="999999"
    2 FOR I=1 TO L: A(I)=2: NEXT I: M=0: P=0: FOR J=1 TO N: Q=0: K=2*L+1
    3 FOR I=L TO 1 STEP -1: K=K-2: X=10*A(I)+Q*I: Q=INT(X/K): A(I)=X-Q*K: NEXT I
    4 Y =INT(Q/10): A(1)=Q-10*Y: Q=Y: IF Q=9 THEN LET M=M+1: GOTO 7
    5 IF Q=10 THEN PRINT STR$(P+1);LEFT$(Z$,M);: P=0: M=0: GOTO 7
    6 PRINT STR$(P);LEFT$(T$,M);: P=Q: M=0
    7 NEXT J:PRINT STR$(P)

    #RC2014 : 14 (thank you JonV)
    #BBCMicro : 19
    #AmstradCPC : 22 (thank you Devlin)
    #AmstradPCW : 23 (thank you Pete)
    #AcornElectron : 25
    #C128 : 27 (fast mode - thank you Jonas H)
    #LuxorABC80 : 29 (thank you Erik)
    #SharpMZ700 : 32 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #VIC20 : 36
    #AcornAtom : 37
    #AppleII : 38 (thank you Jeroen)
    #TRS80CoCo : 42 (thank you Chip)
    #Atari800 : 42 (thank you Mark Elliott)
    #CBMPET : 43
    #C64 : 43
    #Dragon32 : 44
    #SharpMZ80K : 45 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #C16 : 46
    #Altair8800 : 52
    #MSX : 53 (thank you Pixel Purrito)
    #C128 : 56 (default "mode")
    #ZX80 : 57
    #ZXSpectrum : 68 (thank you Adam)
    #SharpPC1500A : 167 (thank you Karttu)
    #ZX81 : 213 (native slow mode)
    #SharpPC1245 : 405 (thank you Karttu)

    Edit: now ordered (seconds)

  2. Tested various micros running this FLOATING POINT program. It derives Pi to 20 decimal places. Interesting stats.

    1 N=20: L=INT(10*N/3): DIM A(255): Z$="000000":T$="999999"
    2 FOR I=1 TO L: A(I)=2: NEXT I: M=0: P=0: FOR J=1 TO N: Q=0: K=2*L+1
    3 FOR I=L TO 1 STEP -1: K=K-2: X=10*A(I)+Q*I: Q=INT(X/K): A(I)=X-Q*K: NEXT I
    4 Y =INT(Q/10): A(1)=Q-10*Y: Q=Y: IF Q=9 THEN LET M=M+1: GOTO 7
    5 IF Q=10 THEN PRINT STR$(P+1);LEFT$(Z$,M);: P=0: M=0: GOTO 7
    6 PRINT STR$(P);LEFT$(T$,M);: P=Q: M=0
    7 NEXT J:PRINT STR$(P)

    #RC2014 : 14 (thank you JonV)
    #BBCMicro : 19
    #AmstradCPC : 22 (thank you Devlin)
    #AmstradPCW : 23 (thank you Pete)
    #AcornElectron : 25
    #C128 : 27 (fast mode - thank you Jonas H)
    #LuxorABC80 : 29 (thank you Erik)
    #SharpMZ700 : 32 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #VIC20 : 36
    #AcornAtom : 37
    #AppleII : 38 (thank you Jeroen)
    #TRS80CoCo : 42 (thank you Chip)
    #Atari800 : 42 (thank you Mark Elliott)
    #CBMPET : 43
    #C64 : 43
    #Dragon32 : 44
    #SharpMZ80K : 45 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #C16 : 46
    #Altair8800 : 52
    #MSX : 53 (thank you Pixel Purrito)
    #C128 : 56 (default "mode")
    #ZX80 : 57
    #ZXSpectrum : 68 (thank you Adam)
    #SharpPC1500A : 167 (thank you Karttu)
    #ZX81 : 213 (native slow mode)
    #SharpPC1245 : 405 (thank you Karttu)

    Edit: now ordered (seconds)

  3. Tested various micros running this FLOATING POINT program. It derives Pi to 20 decimal places. Interesting stats.

    1 N=20: L=INT(10*N/3): DIM A(255): Z$="000000":T$="999999"
    2 FOR I=1 TO L: A(I)=2: NEXT I: M=0: P=0: FOR J=1 TO N: Q=0: K=2*L+1
    3 FOR I=L TO 1 STEP -1: K=K-2: X=10*A(I)+Q*I: Q=INT(X/K): A(I)=X-Q*K: NEXT I
    4 Y =INT(Q/10): A(1)=Q-10*Y: Q=Y: IF Q=9 THEN LET M=M+1: GOTO 7
    5 IF Q=10 THEN PRINT STR$(P+1);LEFT$(Z$,M);: P=0: M=0: GOTO 7
    6 PRINT STR$(P);LEFT$(T$,M);: P=Q: M=0
    7 NEXT J:PRINT STR$(P)

    #RC2014 : 14 (thank you JonV)
    #BBCMicro : 19
    #AmstradCPC : 22 (thank you Devlin)
    #AmstradPCW : 23 (thank you Pete)
    #AcornElectron : 25
    #C128 : 27 (fast mode - thank you Jonas H)
    #LuxorABC80 : 29 (thank you Erik)
    #SharpMZ700 : 32 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #VIC20 : 36
    #AcornAtom : 37
    #AppleII : 38 (thank you Jeroen)
    #TRS80CoCo : 42 (thank you Chip)
    #Atari800 : 42 (thank you Mark Elliott)
    #CBMPET : 43
    #C64 : 43
    #Dragon32 : 44
    #SharpMZ80K : 45 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #C16 : 46
    #Altair8800 : 52
    #MSX : 53 (thank you Pixel Purrito)
    #C128 : 56 (default "mode")
    #ZX80 : 57
    #ZXSpectrum : 68 (thank you Adam)
    #SharpPC1500A : 167 (thank you Karttu)
    #ZX81 : 213 (native slow mode)
    #SharpPC1245 : 405 (thank you Karttu)

    Edit: now ordered (seconds)

  4. Tested various micros running this FLOATING POINT program. It derives Pi to 20 decimal places. Interesting stats.

    1 N=20: L=INT(10*N/3): DIM A(255): Z$="000000":T$="999999"
    2 FOR I=1 TO L: A(I)=2: NEXT I: M=0: P=0: FOR J=1 TO N: Q=0: K=2*L+1
    3 FOR I=L TO 1 STEP -1: K=K-2: X=10*A(I)+Q*I: Q=INT(X/K): A(I)=X-Q*K: NEXT I
    4 Y =INT(Q/10): A(1)=Q-10*Y: Q=Y: IF Q=9 THEN LET M=M+1: GOTO 7
    5 IF Q=10 THEN PRINT STR$(P+1);LEFT$(Z$,M);: P=0: M=0: GOTO 7
    6 PRINT STR$(P);LEFT$(T$,M);: P=Q: M=0
    7 NEXT J:PRINT STR$(P)

    #RC2014 : 14 (thank you JonV)
    #BBCMicro : 19
    #AmstradCPC : 22 (thank you Devlin)
    #AmstradPCW : 23 (thank you Pete)
    #AcornElectron : 25
    #C128 : 27 (fast mode - thank you Jonas H)
    #LuxorABC80 : 29 (thank you Erik)
    #SharpMZ700 : 32 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #VIC20 : 36
    #AcornAtom : 37
    #AppleII : 38 (thank you Jeroen)
    #TRS80CoCo : 42 (thank you Chip)
    #Atari800 : 42 (thank you Mark Elliott)
    #CBMPET : 43
    #C64 : 43
    #Dragon32 : 44
    #SharpMZ80K : 45 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #C16 : 46
    #Altair8800 : 52
    #MSX : 53 (thank you Pixel Purrito)
    #C128 : 56 (default "mode")
    #ZX80 : 57
    #ZXSpectrum : 68 (thank you Adam)
    #SharpPC1500A : 167 (thank you Karttu)
    #ZX81 : 213 (native slow mode)
    #SharpPC1245 : 405 (thank you Karttu)

    Edit: now ordered (seconds)

  5. Tested various micros running this FLOATING POINT program. It derives Pi to 20 decimal places. Interesting stats.

    1 N=20: L=INT(10*N/3): DIM A(255): Z$="000000":T$="999999"
    2 FOR I=1 TO L: A(I)=2: NEXT I: M=0: P=0: FOR J=1 TO N: Q=0: K=2*L+1
    3 FOR I=L TO 1 STEP -1: K=K-2: X=10*A(I)+Q*I: Q=INT(X/K): A(I)=X-Q*K: NEXT I
    4 Y =INT(Q/10): A(1)=Q-10*Y: Q=Y: IF Q=9 THEN LET M=M+1: GOTO 7
    5 IF Q=10 THEN PRINT STR$(P+1);LEFT$(Z$,M);: P=0: M=0: GOTO 7
    6 PRINT STR$(P);LEFT$(T$,M);: P=Q: M=0
    7 NEXT J:PRINT STR$(P)

    #RC2014 : 14 (thank you JonV)
    #BBCMicro : 19
    #AmstradCPC : 22 (thank you Devlin)
    #AmstradPCW : 23 (thank you Pete)
    #AcornElectron : 25
    #C128 : 27 (fast mode - thank you Jonas H)
    #LuxorABC80 : 29 (thank you Erik)
    #SharpMZ700 : 32 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #VIC20 : 36
    #AcornAtom : 37
    #AppleII : 38 (thank you Jeroen)
    #TRS80CoCo : 42 (thank you Chip)
    #Atari800 : 42 (thank you Mark Elliott)
    #CBMPET : 43
    #C64 : 43
    #Dragon32 : 44
    #SharpMZ80K : 45 (thank you Tim Holyoake)
    #C16 : 46
    #Altair8800 : 52
    #MSX : 53 (thank you Pixel Purrito)
    #C128 : 56 (default "mode")
    #ZX80 : 57
    #ZXSpectrum : 68 (thank you Adam)
    #SharpPC1500A : 167 (thank you Karttu)
    #ZX81 : 213 (native slow mode)
    #SharpPC1245 : 405 (thank you Karttu)

    Edit: now ordered (seconds)

  6. Expanded my PWM experiments on the #Altair8800
    I may(???) be the first to try this on such a primitive purely digital computer.

  7. Programmed my #Altair8800 to address "Expansion Unit" register LEDs with PWM fading effects.

  8. On a lone crusade...

    Expansion unit works!! Well, at least for the 8-bit i/o anyway.

    #Altair8800

  9. New #Altair8800 Mini "expansion unit" has arrived.

    Will experiment later.

    Comes equipped with Parallel port (printer), 8-bit I/O and cassette interface.

  10. trying to be on here more often (again lol)

    Back on my BS with my project to make a portable version of Unix V6 (from 1975) with a self-hosted pre-K&R C compiler, that could be released on anything that can at least simulate the memory model

    Gonna start on a custom VM written in #Rust, but then port to the #C64 and probably also #ALtair8800!!

    You can check out the progress on the kernel branch here: codeberg.org/popeyeotaku/popix

    Right now the compiler's almost done, with a bootstrapper compiler written in Rust. I'm about to start booting and bugfixing the kernel as soon as I extend the VM a tad

    Still gotta gut the kernel by another several K, and write self-hosted assembler/linker package, and port userland. Also gonna write a custom YACC that uses less RAM

    but it's coming along swimmingly!!!

    #ancientUnix #C #Popix #C6T

  11. I love it when it does that ...

    (Altair 8800 mini running NULU.COM to extract a .LBR file on CP/M 2.2)

    #Altair8800mini
    #Blinkenlights
    #Altair8800

  12. This Altair 8800 replicat just arrived this afternoon from Italy. Now, *this* is a thing of beauty ! It’s going to be fun !

  13. Found this PERFECT keyboard for my #Altair8800! Integrated solenoid and blue metal casing.

    $600 plus customs and tariff charges! 😱

    Will remortgage da wife.

  14. A view of the entrance to our permanent exhibition of home computers from the 1970s and 1980s. All devices are fully functional and accessible to our visitors.

    #retrocomputing #museum #handson #oldenburg #commodorepet #applecomputer #altair8800 #tandytrs80 #commodorevic20 #ibm5150

  15. New keyboard for the #Altair8800. This has a numeric keypad which is essential for some programs including very serious applications like #PacMan!! ;-)

  16. No more spaghetti of adapters and wires. Main unit, floppy drive and monitor all connected to a single adapter.

    Yes, it's beefy enough. Thanks for asking.

    #Altair8800

  17. I'm almost there with getting my #Altair8800 online to a BBS. It's connected but something wrong with ANSI settings. I'm chuffed tho!!!

  18. This gives me such joy. Two guests enjoying a game of terminal ASCII #PacMan on the primitive #Altair8800 at last weekends retro gaming event in Cambourne.

  19. After some config shenanigans I have finally got my Super Star Trek game to load from floppy, as God intended (well, more likely paper tape).
    #Altair8800

  20. Ordered a floppy drive unit to go with my #Altair8800 computer. Slightly more appropriate than loading from SD card (amazing tho that is).

  21. Tidied up SRS which was previously inconsistent and slightly off.

    Also enhanced LRS with dynamic x/y coordinates to show context of where you are in the rest of the galaxy. It even knows when you're on the "edge" of the allowed galaxy.

    #Altair8800

  22. CW: Danger! Old Hardware!!

    Yours truly proudly posing in front of a #DEC VT-101 and #Altair8800 setup ... #oldbytes indeed ... 💾

    Photo taken by @BlackICEBBS - don't use without their permission!

    EDIT: updated Alt-Text

  23. Playing "Lode Runner" aka "Ladder" on a #Digital #VT101 #terminal. The game itself ran on an #Altair8800 ...

  24. After countless attempts, a few desperate prayers to the silicon gods, and some minor surgery on the serial board, I finally got Microsoft BASIC from 1976 running on my 1975 Altair 8800.
    All of this… at a blazing 300 baud. Yes, three hundred. Because why rush greatness?
    Video proof included—because if it’s not filmed, it didn’t happen.
    #retrocomputer #Altair8800 #MicrosoftBASIC
    Can’t wait to create some new CTF challenges for the next hacking.museum exhibitions #retro #hacking

  25. Grazie ad un post di Francesco Sblendorio riscopriamo l'IMSAI 8080, un computer del 1975, considerato il clone dell'Altair 8800, che ha fatto bella mostra di sé nel film "Wargames - Giochi di guerra" del 1983. Avremmo anche dovuto programmare il MOS KIM-1 ma l'impresa merita un video a parte. #retrocomputing #altair8800 #imsai8080 #wargames youtube.com/watch?v=tZYwKGedFA

  26. #BillGates unearths #Microsoft's ancient code like a proud nerd dad
    Founder shares 4K #Altair #BASIC source ahead of 50th anniversary
    The code was the foundation on which Microsoft was built. Before Windows and before Office, there was a carefully crafted BASIC interpreter designed to fit within the limited resources available on the #Altair8800.
    theregister.com/2025/04/03/bil

    The Code: gatesnotes.com/microsoft-origi