iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by George Beckett

Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 11/10/2026

New Blog Post - VIC20 Bunny Blitz - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/10/vic2... I have rewritten an old VIC20 BASIC game, Rabbit Blitz by C.Simun in 6502 assembler to fix a couple of bugs and add a few new features and a general spruce up. Source and binary on github - github.com/tynemouthsof...

Rabbit Blitz title (with ££££££££ bug showing)

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

#Forth ROM for Timex Sinclair 1000 (www.timexsinclair.com/product/plur...), later ported to ZX81 as ZX81 Forth (from Skywave). I've reverse assembled it and adapted it to Minstrel 4th - github.com/markgbeckett.... Hope that helps.

timexsinclair.com

Pluri-Forth – Timex/Sinclair Computers

Pluri-Forth is both an operating system and a programming language, replacing the Sinclair ROM entirely. FORTH programs were compiled and ran about 10 times faster than interpreter BASIC. Pluri-Forth ...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The top-level source code is (even for #Forth) very readable.

Source code of demo program to control LCD, written in Tree Forth, using my I2C library.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Fuelled by my success controlling an I2C LCD from #AceForth on #Minstrel4th, I switched to the less forgiving #TreeForth ROM. However, with first-class string handling and much better performance, I think Tree Forth wins out for this application! #retrogaming

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Biggest challenge was getting the specs of the LCD, which assumes you're using an Arduino library. Thanks to @timsretro.bsky.social and @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk for help to get to the bottom of the mystery.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

I have been expanding my #minstrel4th I2C experience adding support for a 16×2 LCD display to the collection. github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Cycling when it's busy actually seems to feel safer in my experience. I assume cars are already going slow and expecting interruptions.

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Reposted by George Beckett

Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 22/09/2026

Happy Birthday to the Jupiter Ace. If you fancy a bit of Forth (or ZX81 BASIC, ZX80 BASIC or Lambda 8300 BASIC) with added RC2014 expansion and maxed out 51K of RAM, check out the Minstrel 4th. www.tindie.com/products/tyn... Message me direct if you want to order from outside the UK.

Minstrel 4th V4.52 with Forth keyboard overlay

Minstrel 4th with the new Multi-standard 9 way D joystick interface (Boldfield / ZXpand / Kempston).

Minstrel 4th keyboard overlays for Forth, ZX81 BASIC, ZX80 BASIC and Lambda 8300 BASIC.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

You're maybe thinking of Amstrad NC100?

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Amazing how quickly sunrise and sunset times are changing as we approach #autumn #equinox, as seen here at Edinburgh Castle, calculated using a #zx80 or #Minstrel2 (8K ROM) supercomputer. github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

NHS Organ Donation need your help. 8,700 people are waiting for an organ and deceased donation rates are declining. They need 1M people to confirm their organ donation decision (takes 2 mins) on NHS Organ Donor Register register.organdonation.nhs.uk/start/ #OrganDonation #ODW26 #OrganDonationWeek

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Nice. I didn't know about the top of memory trick using `JR F3` on the 48k ROM.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Why have one temperature sensor when you can have two? Allows me to check addressing in my I2C library (github.com/markgbeckett...) and to see how consistent the sensors are (pretty good, as it happens). #Minstrel4th #i2c #retrogaming

Output of test run, comparing measurements made by two sensors.

I2C devices connected to the SC137 interface card, connected to the Minstrel 4th.

Sensor connected and set up ready for testing.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

If you would like to know more, see p. 27--31 of The Spectrum Show Magazine, Issue 34 - 1drv.ms/b/s!AkGz_lEr... #harlequin #zxspectrum

1drv.ms

Microsoft OneDrive

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Snap and also the home-build I am most proud of/ surprised at completing

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Proved quite challenging. The algorithm is reasonably simple to describe in words but more challenging to implement. I abandoned my first attempt and started again, using counted lists to track set assignments. Lefthand maze has wide gaps and circular paths. Righthand maze is a valid 'perfect' maze.

Failed attempt at Eller's algorithm. Maze has wide gaps and loops.

Valid maze with no loops and no multi-width gaps.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

This @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk blog blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/08/time... rekindled my interest in maze generation, and I delved into Eller's Algorithm which generates perfect mazes (weblog.jamisbuck.org/2010/1W2/29/...). Here's my Forth implementation - github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

If you see this, post your getaway vehicle

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Reposted by George Beckett

Tynemouth Software @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk · 25/08/2026

It amazes me that legislation like this keeps getting through and nowhere along the line do any of our alleged representatives consider how this might impact anything other than large corporations. All I can say is, if you want something from a small seller, buy it now, whilst you still can.

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Reposted by George Beckett

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

"We'd like your photoshoot to be with a historic telescope" "But my book is about creating a virtual universe inside a futuristic supercomputer" [pulls in massive favour from colleagues at the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre] "Great news - I can offer you both space-age and sparkly" 👌👩‍🔬

Catherine is looking moody in a blue shirt that is colour-co-ordinated with a blue strip light that runs along cabinets that house computers. In the foreground a photographer is taking her photo.

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Reposted by George Beckett

The Centre for Computing History @computinghistory.org.uk · 24/08/2026

BBC Domesday at 40! 📀 Tickets are LIVE for our 19 Sept event at the Centre for Computing History, Cambridge. www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/77318/Do... Explore the original system, hear from those involved & see if you can find your 1986 contribution! 🔎

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Reposted by George Beckett

Dominique Boutigny @alvindediaspar.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

In one of my picture of the eclipse, taken a little bit before sunset I have a spot on the Moon. It is probably an artefact but there is a slight chance that it is the flash of a meteorite smashing the moon. May I ask you to check your pictures for a similar spot around 18:50 UTC ? 🧪 🔭

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Glad it's now working. Don't beat yourself up about it! Have a game of my current favourite #centipede, with spider feature, AY sound and joystick support. github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

It's not as bad as people seem to think. You need to get used to doing things with the Stack and Reverse Polish Notation. Have a look at github.com/markgbeckett....

github.com

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

So, which ROM will be your default? Are you Team #Forth or Team #BASIC? Will you go for Lambda/ ZX BASIC/ Ace Forth/ Tree Forth? Some software to get you started (on the #forth side, of course) at github.com/markgbeckett...

github.com

GitHub - markgbeckett/jupiter_ace: Software I have developed for the Jupiter Ace and Minstrel 4th

Software I have developed for the Jupiter Ace and Minstrel 4th - markgbeckett/jupiter_ace

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Reposted by George Beckett

Fuzzweed @fuzzweed.co.uk · 08/08/2026

UK people. Do you remember / were you part of the BBC doomsday project in 1984? The Centre for Computing History is looking for memories (especially if you made it onto the laser disc) for their upcoming 40th anniversary exhibition . forms.cloud.microsoft/e/s5HEvKBkV4

forms.cloud.microsoft

Microsoft Forms

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

According to notice in TS Bulletin Issue 1 (1990), Tree Forth source has been "released" for non-commercial use. However, I have not found a copy of code. I have tried to find contact for Tree Systems or Skywave, but no success. I am working on my own disassembly - github.com/markgbeckett....

github.com

zx81/zx-forth at main · markgbeckett/zx81

Software for the Sinclair ZX81 and Timex Sinclair 1000 computers - markgbeckett/zx81

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

... and left it running while I enjoyed a game of Perilous Swamp. github.com/markgbeckett...

In-game shot of Perilous Swamp running, with background task logging temperature to TS2040 printer.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Big advantage of Tree Forth is preemptive multitasking support. I set up a background task to log temperature reading to TS2400 printer once per minute.

Minstrel 4th logging temperature readings to a TS2040 printer

Tree Forth source code for setting up multitasking.

Close up of temperature readings logged on printer

View of RC2014 backplane with SC137 interface, ZX Printer interface and Tynemouth Software Serial interface.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

A calming burst of blue LEDs each time you read LM75A temperature sensor (plus a bit of activity on serial line, as I am piping output to a serial terminal. github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Ported my I2C interface to work with (#Minstrel4th) Tree Forth. Tree Forth is not as easy to use as Ace Forth, plus its easier to crash machine with bad code. However, it is quite a bit faster. #retrogaming

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I have made some improvements to the I2C interface: added support for clock stretching; better alignment to I2C interface standard; and improved demo code. Time to try some other I2C devices. github.com/markgbeckett...

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

First version of #Forth I2C interface is complete (for #JupiterAce ROM on @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk #Minstrel4th). Based on Steve Cousin's Z80 m/code I2C demo. It includes example for LM75A temperature sensor. github.com/markgbeckett...

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Reposted by George Beckett

SmallRun @smallrun.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

New shop on SmallRun: Tynemouth (@tynemouthsoftware.co.uk). Making new things for old computers → smallrun.net/shop/tynemouth

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Works equally well with Ace Forth, Tree Forth and ZX81 BASIC ROMs. It's a very useful board!

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Cycling to work is the best. For me, is quicker than bus or train, plus avoids hefty parking charges. Also burns calories, so more snacks! Bike maintenance in winter is bit grim though. #cycletowork

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Crikey. Did police get you with a stinger!

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Reposted by George Beckett

EPCC @epcc.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

The Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space & Time (LSST), expected to create up to 500PB of data, has begun. EPCC’s Somerville research cloud hosts the UK's Data Access Centre, which will serve LSST science data to the international community: edin.ac/4gjaKYb

This 1.7-gigapixel image of a field of stars in the constellation Lupus showcases the unprecedented view of the Universe that NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory gives us. Equipped with the LSST Camera — the largest digital camera in the world — Rubin combines a wide view of the sky with the ability to detect extremely faint objects. With this capability, Rubin can reveal details of the cosmos across an enormous range of scales, from distant galaxies, to individual stars, to the wispy clouds of dust spread throughout our galaxy. The faint, glowing clouds spread across this image are galactic cirrus: clouds of interstellar gas and dust that can be seen in the foreground of the Milky Way. Rubin’s ability to capture scenes like this in unmatched detail will open new windows into the structure of our galaxy and the Universe beyond it. Credit: NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/NOIRLab/SLAC/AURA

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

I think 3-inch diskette was Panasonic's attempt to grab a market eventually won by Sony. The disks were available in some MSX systems too and most Amstrad word processors. They were fast and reliable. I reckon it could have gone either way 3 or 3.5). Maybe media price was the clincher.

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Reposted by George Beckett

Sinclair Research @sinclairresearch.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The Lambda 8300 - a ZX81 clone that squeaks at you with every keypress and makes you type PRINT in full. Tynemouth Software's reverse engineering of its ROM is a brilliant read: blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/0…

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

As a test I have ported SCM I2C demo program to work on #Minstrel4th and added LM79A-specific code. Seems to be working well, though temp is currently output in hex and not at full precision.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I hope it beeps with each key press!

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Eventual plan is to write a client in #Minstrel4th port of Tree #Forth, which has pre-emptive multitasking -- so I can run a background task to track temperature, while doing other work. github.com/markgbeckett...

github.com

zx81/zx-forth at main · markgbeckett/zx81

Software for the Sinclair ZX81 and Timex Sinclair 1000 computers - markgbeckett/zx81

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Coupled with a TI LM75A. Both the SC137 and LM75A have really good documentation: good enough even for me. The I2C tutorial (www.robot-electronics.co.uk/i2c-tutorial) is also a very useful introduction to I2C comms.

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Inspired by @timsretro.bsky.social (youtu.be/4sX05bnFuwc?...), I am experimenting with connecting I2C sensors to the #Minstrel4th. The SC137 (smallcomputercentral.com/rcbus/sc100-...) seems a good place to start. #retrogaming

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George Beckett @markgbeckett.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

If you're looking for programs on tape, what about Biorhythms?

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Reposted by George Beckett

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We have the best library at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, packed full of ancient astronomical books. This one is (apparently) in German? Anyone interested in helping us find out what it says? Danke! 🙏

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