I bought myself a 48k Sinclair Zx Spectrum+. I intend to take back up my Z80 machine language programming. I used to really love that method of coding. Forcing a 3.5mhz chip to move things at fast speeds around the screen.
It helped me get into the embedded systems job I held at Kanda Systems when the AVR microcontroller first came along, programming them with the Kanda/Atmel STK200 and STK300 boards. Developing firmware for the AVRIsp and using Delphi to create the ui for them. Happy times, miss that time, but also don’t miss the way I was burnt out there. Was maintaining about 40 projects in the end, mad for one developer.
Anyway, will see if I can find a way to show here how I will be progressing. In all my attempts to regain my joy of coding, building and making things, solving problems. It’s a life I do not want to give up.
Tag: delphi
Good days work
A day and a half’s fiddling, and I got the above finally. Not knowing what type of module I had didn’t help, was not like the ones I saw around, and the ones it did look like were not it. Anyway its working on my mega2560 board, so can now begin the next stage, getting my PC/Phone to talk to the BT and send commands to my mega board. Also experiment with powering it with the little 4v lithium batteries I have. See how long they last. Not BT LE so may not be very efficient. Its my prototype dev setup though so not a real problem. Want to get something started and going, can think of the real thing once I know the idea works. Won’t say what here, you know, walls have ears, though I have never seen any.
So now into Delphi dev mode and FW writing for the ‘thing’. I have a number of ‘things’ but this one is the one to start with.
Also have to be sure to do some doc stuff to send off for business start-up stuff, and other admin, as well as getting my OU work done, as assignment due mid month. May not be going outside for a while, well maybe in the garden, but as they say its going to snow even that may not happen.
Laters.
PS. Yes I have a very very cheap Oscilloscope, I’m bare bones at the moment, self financing, and skint. So use what I can.
Fiddling with electronics day.
Much needed mental health therapy. Some coding, on my current favourite board and fiddling with new Delphi. #researchanddevelopment #embedded #delphi #coding #ATmega2560 #play