I've been working on this one for a while, y'all... :)
This is it... I'm launching a personal computer company here, right
here on Gopher, in 2023! FRST Computer is a small-batch, artisan
computer company.
FRST is the creative result of my retrocomputing projects through
the years. It provides a concrete and (slightly) structured project
where my personal interest in embedded systems and retrocomputiang
topics can continue to be explored and shared with the world.
The obvious inspiraton for FRST is NeXT. I have long been fascinated
by NeXT and as a Mac OS X / macOS / iOS user have long benefitted by
the great software engineering foundation that traces all the way back
to the founding minds at NeXT in the early 90s. FRST is in part an
imagining of NeXT sensibilities (industrial design, at least) being
applied to a 90s-era Cyberpunk(ish) vision of portable Cyberdecks that
power a personal-focused communications network that does not require
existing infrastructure.
I've taken inspiration from many places for this one... I have been
following some pretty amazing makers, engineers, and artists for some
time -- people selling kit computers, modules, writing amazing new
code, emulating cool stuff in FPGAs, etc. Shout out to RC2014 [1],
rosco-m68k [2], FujiNet [3] and the many other kit computers, boards,
emulators, etc.
In particular, I have really enjoyed following Andreas Kling's
journey with SerenityOS (and now Ladybird!). It's been truly
inspirational to see how this he has promoted such a positive
community of developers and users for this retro-inspired-but-future-
focused open-source project. (I also think Serenity and Ladybird are
beautifully elegant -- the kind of code-as-art I also strive for)
The success of these projects is encouraging and has shown me
there is room in the world for just one more newly-designed, retro-
inspired computer platform. :)
# Computer company or art project? - A cohesive model?
As I have prepared to publicize this personal project of mine that
I've been futzing with for a while, I really struggled with the best
way to "launch" this thing, but eventually I came up with what I hope
will be a unifying model / approach that addresses growth,
sustainability, and value -- both for the product as well as the
community I hope will grow up around the product.
This model is the "small batch, artisan" model -- one that leans into
the artistic/creative nature of the project, offering something unique
and exclusive in purely artistic terms, with a promise of becoming
more as larger batches are produced and the community of
collector-users grows. After all, it is my intention to run each
successive batch of computers in ever-increasing numbers.
# The small "i" internet
Why would I expect this crazy thing to grow? Why do I think people
are really going to be interested in these weird Cyberdeck prop
computers? FRST:Net.
FRST:Net is what I intend to be the (if you'll pardon the term)
"killer app" for FRST computers. And while the vision for FRST:Net
isn't in full focus yet, the point is to connect with other FRST users
that are in your area -- your local community. Built on LoRa
protocol / sub-Ghz baseband radio modules, FRST:Net can grow to
accommodate any number of higher-level applications / communications
modes. I plan to eventually develop support for operating the Semtech
modules under amateur radio rules, allowing Hams additional privileges
(and responsibilities).
The local nature of dial-up BBS systems of the 80s and 90s often
led to user communities that met up regularly IRL. Likewise, the
inherently local nature of the sub-Ghz RF radio is intended to
promote the formation of networks between neighbors -- a bunch of
small "i" internets that serve to strengthen actual communities,
rather than the illusion of connection that often comes from the
centralized, Web 2.0 social media platforms that displaced the
online communities that preceded them.
# Retrocomputing, retro-company-ing
In keeping with the retro-ness of this thing, I'm trying to set this
up so that the computer "company" is itself run differently -- that
is, a bit of a throw-back to the small computer companies of the
pre-Internet world. It will continue to be hosted on Gopher, business
conducted by telephone (PBX, old-school analog phones), mail (PO Box),
invoices issued using vintage software and receipts may be printed on
vintage tractor-fed paper stock. (while supplies last!) :)
This is, of course, all designed to exploit nostalgia and I hope will
lead to sales, owed at least in part to novelty. I'd also just like
to illustrate that the old systems still work fine. SDF [4] has
helped to teach me this, as they continue to accept a number of forms
of payment (Checks? Money Orders?) that might seem quaint in 2023.
Well, are these still valid forms of payment? Ok then, FRST Computer will
accept them, too. Let's see how this goes. :)
# Expectations / hopes
The small-batch, artisan model is also meant to keep expectations
realistic -- both for potential backers and for myself. At best,
this path leads to hundreds of FRST computers made and enjoyed by
a group of nostalgic and enthusiastic users. At worst, a handful
of pieces are made to demonstrate a unique personal computing vision
with a more limited software library that only a few of us get to
enjoy. I'll continue to recruit support from Gopherspace (and related
corners of the Internet) and hope this approach allows me to attract
the right people at the right time.
In the meantime, launching FRST publicly allows me to move forward
with the project, soliciting feedback and providing accountability and
encouragement to continue the journey.
I expect early backers to have a sense of nostalgia, an appreciation
for the intersection of art and technology, a sense of adventure --
writing new code for an entirely new computer platform -- and a good
sense of humor. I also hope that the earliest adopters share
a belief that this effort is worth supporting, will grow, and the
value of early-serial-number FRST units really will hold value as the
art pieces they are intended to be.
# Stickers!
There is probably more to say, but I'm going to end this long post
with an appeal to stop by frstcomputer.com (on port 70) and check out
the limited-edition stickers for sale there. While I wait to fill
batch 3, I hope that anyone that finds this whole thing remotely cool
will stop by and order a sticker to show your support!
Thanks for reading this long post. Can't wait to show you the first
FRST:Net demo real soon! :)
