One Bit Sound with the ZX Spectrum
[Michael] has a thing for playing audio over beepers using a single bit. He’s done it with the Apple ][ and the IBM PC. This time he turns to the …read more Continue reading One Bit Sound with the ZX Spectrum
Author Archives: Al Williams
A 1024 Byte Python Interpreter
Like many of us, [Austin] finds writing code satisfying — especially if it is challenging. His latest challenge: shoehorn something that looks like Python into 512 bytes. Ok, that didn’t …read more Continue reading A 1024 Byte Python Interpreter
WordStar Lives Again (and Again)
Word processors and editors are a funny thing. It doesn’t really matter what’s “best,” whatever that means. If you have finger memory built up for one program, it’s painful to …read more Continue reading WordStar Lives Again (and Again)
Running Apple ][ Software on a Commodore 64 — Silently
The computer business in 1984 was a bizarre mix of hobby-level companies, a few small companies that had made it big, and a lot of big companies starting to take …read more Continue reading Running Apple ][ Software on a Commodore 64 — Silently
COSMAC Elf Turns 50
If you were interested in computers in the early 1970s, you struggled to get time on real computers since owning your own was all but impossible. In the middle of …read more Continue reading COSMAC Elf Turns 50
From a Ten-Line Script to a Real Utility with Codex
I’m an experienced programmer, and I’ve worked in many different languages. Sometimes being a programmer is a two-edged sword. You want to accomplish something, and you can do it easily …read more Continue reading From a Ten-Line Script to a Real Utility with Codex
“I’m Not Dead Yet!” Reverse Polish Notation Calculators You Can Still Buy
If you used a scientific calculator in the 1970s or 1980s, there was a fair chance that it worked differently from almost every calculator you see today. Instead of typing: …read more Continue reading “I’m Not Dead Yet!” Reverse Polish Notation Calculators You Can Still Buy
What’s Mu Metal?
If you tear into old TVs or recording equipment, you may see shields made from some exotic-looking metal. Old timers will tell you it’s called mu metal, and its purpose …read more Continue reading What’s Mu Metal?
Hackaday Podcast Episode 384: OCR MOD Records, Magical PCBs, and the Gravity of Space Stations
What did Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Al Williams read in Hackaday last week? Probably everything, but you can tune in and hear about their favorites on this week’s podcast. …read more Continue reading Hackaday Podcast Episode 384: OCR MOD Records, Magical PCBs, and the Gravity of Space Stations
Artificial Intelligence as It Once Was
One day, people will look back at what we call Artificial Intelligence and laugh. We do the same thing today, as chat bots totally outstrip what the computer industry called …read more Continue reading Artificial Intelligence as It Once Was