#Retro Computing

Programming the popular cellular automaton using Z80 Assembler

Here is how I fixed the drift on my Nintendo Switch Joy-Con. It is properly fixed, not just putting cleaner into the thumbstick. I will also be showing how to swap the shell of the joy-con for a different style. You don’t have to do this if all you want is to do is repair your joy-con.

Converting a 1980s BASIC type-in game into Z80 Assembly.

Building and programming a joystick interface for the RC2014 Z80 computer.

Get comfy and watch as I try to figure out how to write a really simple program the hard way.

Let’s hook an Arduino up to a 1980s CPU and see what happens!

Writing fractals on a 7MHz computer with 64K of RAM

I build a Z80 based computer from scratch, and it works!

Today’s lesson in curing headaches by banging your head on the wall until they stop involves joysticks and mice. This is a bit technical, so ensure your seat back and tray table are in the upright and locked position. Please keep all arms inside the ride at all times.

Drawing sprites on the Spectrum Next, using C. Or – how to learn the dark art of figuring out things you don’t understand. <!-more–>

Learning to program is an endurance game full of random side quests, dead ends and frustration. Rather than learning “how to do X”, which is specific, it’s much more useful learning “how to figure out how to do anything at all”.

Go look on StackOverflow at all the questions that come down to “I don’t understand what I’m trying to do in the first place, can you write my code for me?”. Here’s how to not be one of those people.