| The Karenbak-1 [message #7670] |
Mon, 18 May 2020 23:05 |
kareno
Messages: 19
Registered: October 2019
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Junior Member |
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Hi everybody,
This is a computer I built a couple of years back which takes its inspiration from the Kenbak-1 computer, which was a very early personal computer.
It has no microprocessor, the CPU being implemented entirely from HCMOS logic.
The Kenbak-1 used shift registers for memory. Mine uses a BBD chip in a similar way.
It is Turing complete, but only by using the early pragma of allowing code to be over-written to alter the address field.
I had plans to build a fully discrete version at some point, with the memory implemented on a short tape loop, but health issues are putting paid to that 
I think the drum memory vacuum tube era was inspirational for its amazing economy of parts.
I'd love to hear from anyone else who is interested in this particular period of computer history.
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