Not content to leave things alone, [Nick Bild] has updated his nearly practical breadboard 6502 Vectron project once again by adding Tiny Basic and home tree automation. Instead of using an LCD module like last time, or his custom-built VGA output using 7400-series logic, [Nick] chose to go modern this time and implemented a VGA output using a TinyFPGA BX.
Tiny Basic was one of the first versions of Basic released after Bill Gates famous open letter to hobbyists in 1976. While Altair Basic was selling for $150, Tom Pittman wrote Tiny Basic for the 6800 and sold it for only $5 (don’t worry, Tom has since made it free to use). We got a kick out of browsing the Tiny Basic manual and learning that our serial number can be found on the paper tape leader, and that a Teletype will generally receive one more character, at least, after getting the X-OFF control signal.
In the video, you can see [Nick] running a short Basic program and operating his Christmas tree lights from the Vectron, although it’s only on-off control. He suggests that a PCB version is in the works, but he’s having trouble deciding when to quit adding features. That’s a conundrum we know all too well.
[Nick] implemented a VGO output?
VGA
Oops. Fixed.
VGO, the carpathian?
And it’s TOM (not Tim) Pittman.
At one point, this article had the name “Tim Pittman” listed and then said “Tom” in the following paranthetical. Then they changed it to be consistent but doubled down on “Tim”. So at least it’s consistent now even if it’s consistently incorrect.
I love it. It was a 50/50 chance and they got it wrong.
For the record, the poor guy’s name is Tom Pittman.
It’s so nice to have a proofreader fairy! (Fixed.)
Does a Proofreader Fairy leave cash under your pillow while you sleep?
By Vectron’s golden wings that was good. Praise be upon Vectron, by Vectron’s name.