2020-11-12: Old OSes On New Small Hardware xkp
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Back in 2019 I started work on a project I call ZX20. It's a computer that's
designed to be easily buildable with replacable parts capable of being built or
maintained in some form for the next 50-100 years. In the event of complete
collapse, it will be possible to use this system somewhere, somehow in some
form.
My primary target OS for ZX20 is CP/M, but my initial hardware platform isn't
Z80. My initial target hardware platform is ESP32.
The goal of the ZX20 design is to have the ability to build an extensible
system entirely using through hole parts. Through hole parts == scavengeable
parts. The ESP32 is popular, but not as popular as say Z80, AVR or ESP8266.
However, with Z80, you can run CP/M directly. With ESP32 you can run Z80 *fast*.
It's a longer term project and in all likelihood will be renamed ZX21 before
release. I have been working on prototypes though, most notably a CP/M system
for RingZer0.training. If you want to see it there's a toot here:
=>
https://mastodon.social/@stevelord/105199102762006605
I started playing with CollapseOS today. It's an interesting concept, but I'm
not convinced it's heading in the right direction. I haven't used Forth in
decades until today and I really struggled with it. Forth is just so different
to conventional computing I can see people struggling. Still, I'll give it a go
as I think CollapseOS could make for a good ZX20 target OS.
ZX20 will run more than one OS. I have a graphical BASIC running, as well as a
semi-functional ZX Spectrum emulator. I'd like to try getting SMS or Gameboy
working at some point too but right now the key is getting the hardware right.
