RetroBytes(John)

RetroBytes(John)

@retrobytes.bsky.social

The person from that youtube channel a few people watch.

890 followers175 following1K posts

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

So, the first building block of my next project is done, or at least working well enough so I can move on to the next part. I had started this before, worked out the design, and wrote a small amount of C. So after picking it back up, I restarted again in go because that was going to be faster.

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RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

send/receive packets over tcp. This means just the 1 process has access to the raw etherent interface, and any number of processes can have tunneled ipx access. Now I need to move on the next part, the thing that uses IPX, which I've already written big parts of, but never got to the point of

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

So, the first building block of my next project is done, or at least working well enough so I can move on to the next part. I had started this before, worked out the design, and wrote a small amount of C. So after picking it back up, I restarted again in go because that was going to be faster.

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RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

a BNF filter, so userspace does not keep getting battered with every packet, only the ipx packet with the frame type we want. The reason for this is that linux removed support for IPX from the kernel a long time ago, so if you want to write code that deals with IPX packets, then you need away

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

to deal with the IPX packets. Now I want more than one process to do IPX on the same machine, and I dont want every process opening a raw ethernet socket (it's a bit of a security issue). So hence, this userspace ipx stack, now lots of processes can open a tcp socket with the ipx process and

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

So, the first building block of my next project is done, or at least working well enough so I can move on to the next part. I had started this before, worked out the design, and wrote a small amount of C. So after picking it back up, I restarted again in go because that was going to be faster.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

After spending some of last night, and most of today working on it, I now have a basic IPX interface working on the 3 framing types it expects, with ipx tunneling over udp (to support dosbox), and TCP for supporting my own services. The etherent part works by opening a raw, etherent socket, with

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Now time to change back to a project I started years ago, then ran out of steam (well had kids) and left it to rot for 11 year. I wonder if I will like the code I wrote 11 years ago, or will I be wondering what the hell was I thinking. Will I spend the next 2 weeks modernising it, then run out of..

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

The c part probably does want to get dumped and replaced with go, as I've written so little of it, it will be quicker just to start again in go. The php part is surprisingly up to date, an evening with rector, should let me get it fully compatible with php 8.5, and make the structual changes I want

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

I thought I might have run out of PHP installs to upgrade. Then I remembered that one last docker container that makes the garden lights work that's not been updated for 10 years.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Revs+ is next on the chopping block, in theory everything I've already written for Revs should work with Revs+. It just where I hook my code in (that lives in sideways ram), in Revs is not un-used memory in Revs+. So I an going to have to move where the code, that jumps to my code lives.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

I also dont think I'll have the space for the code that detects which sideways bank I've written my code into, so the basic loader will need to just write the location somewhere in ram that will not get over written, once the game starts.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

So the idea I had that fell under the category of easier than I assumed it would be. Has become more complex, but in different ways than I expected. I am now in too deep to stop now!!

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Have you ever had an idea for a project, and thought this is probably going to be far too difficult? Then, as you start looking into it, discover a lot of the things you thought would make it difficult turns out are not going to be anywhere near as difficult as you originally thought.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Well, I've just had that moment, and a pie in the sky idea might be doable. Sorry to be vague, but I'm still far too paranoid, that I'm going to discover a show stopper that kills the whole idea, so until I've done a chunck more reading, and written some code I not announcing anything.

RetroBytes(John) reposted

Squeezy John
@johnspiers.co.uk

I still absolutely think that the English rugby team should learn how to morris dance properly and do it in response to the Haka against New Zealand.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

I did use claude to write the tests for this bit. As there is an issue with the person writing the unit test, and the code being one an the same person. So I thought I would expirement, also I dont enjoy writting unit tests, so if something else can, and does it well, I am interested.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social
Dr Johnny Blanchard@onlyretrofans.com

Hello all, as with one of my previous requests i'm currently pulling together a BBC radio program on the growth of the games industry, I have a few devs from the 80s and 90s here who can hopefully help me and also maybe connect me to non-UK devs from the 80s and 90s too? Cheers

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Good buy to radio4 long wave, it finally stop broadcasting tonight. No more listing to it when in France anymore. Given the current transmitter in Droitwich, first started broadcasting 1934. It's amazing that it's been running for so long. 1/2

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Although it did not carry Radio 4 until 1978, previously it carried Radio2 and before that the light program (which was renamed to Radio2 in 1967). Radio4 was previously known as the Home Service, and before that, the National Programe.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Back from a great weekend at retrofest, the voice has gone a little bit. Met lots of really nice people, who came to have a look at Unix corner and say hi. I finally can have a cup of tea now.

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

I'm really looking forwards to being part of Retrofest this year in Swindon. If you've not got tickets yet, and want to go, there are still some for Sunday 31st May.

Short Circuit@shortcircuit.org.uk

It's #retrofest2026 very soon indeed - just over a week! Saturday is SOLD OUT, but there's still tickets for Sunday - www.retrofest.uk/tickets.php - and it is, obviously, going to be awesome! Here's a few more photos from last year to get us in the mood ...

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

Just 5 short weeks to go. Its going to be fantastic. Really looking forwards to seeing everyone there.

Short Circuit@shortcircuit.org.uk

What does this big empty space need? Well, it needs lots and lots of vintage computers - and YOU! It's just 5 weeks to Retrofest 2026 (gulp) and tickets are selling fast. Buy yours now and do your bit to fill this big empty space! www.retrofest.uk/tickets.php

RetroBytes(John)
@retrobytes.bsky.social

As can be summed up by the phrase, at flamming last. The government is set to break the link between gas and electric pricing. Apparently, we will get the details on this next week.