Interview - an interview with the newly formed group zhelezyachnikov from Moscow: NedoPC team / group.
NedoPC team / group:
interview
WB> What reasons moved you, how you came to the idea of
productivity dit "iron"?
cr0acker: The idea of producing iron, I had a long time. It
should be noted that almost all members of NedoPC group are
users of the "Sprinter". So the first piece of iron I started
designing just for "Sprinter" and it was in late August 2003.
Nemo then was still alive (in the sense of producing iron for
the Spectrum), and Alexander Shushkov demanded of me
programming for the Spectrum. By the time I have visited Profi
...
Shaos: who in turn got to cr0acker-y on me;)
cr0acker: ... (Which I gave to Paradigmuse Alone Coder-y)
which was 580VV55A. This is extremely clever chip. AND
So I decided to make a payment which one end was inserted to
in ISA slot, and at the other end it would be VV55A. In
principle, such schemes are more than a dozen, but all they had
one shortcoming: they do not take into account that the speed
of 580-series 2 MHz, and the speed of the ISA higher%). In
general, taking one of the well-known circuits and has attached
thereto veytilku (wait), I threw up fee. But in production it
does not matter - the fact that the firm Peters Plus lost
interest in the Sprinter. But experience is not a gift
disappeared. In my new programmer is exactly VV55:). Then I met
with Roman Chuunin (CHRV), podhaltutril little (Did kursoviki
Informatics for half classmates) and we launched the
controllers IDE.
CHRV: This is perhaps the easiest question, because I have
always gravitated more to the gland, in due time graduated from
the Institute as a 'designer and engineer of computational
tools. " After as producers disappeared from the market and, in
fact, there was none, our team of associates decided to do this
difficult objective - to provide iron.
Shaos: Sprinter gave a hypothetical possibility (and not sold
to the public) to develop hardware Software tools and
techniques - proshivaya firmware Iron filling, like a program.
Have a great desire to term to do something similar, flexible,
hardware-software:).
WB> What is the goal you are pursuing?
cr0acker: To understand what goal we are pursuing, we must
understand what NedoPC. The term 'NedoPC' was first performed
in pisishnom Computerra edition. Then this term is slightly
modified Shaos (Alexander Shabarshina). In general, Alexander
Shabarshina their personal example demonstrated how to be
Nedopisishnik: This person wrote an emulator Sprinter without
most companies; while at an early stage of his emulator ran
sprinterovskie program and allows you to debug sprinterovsky
software.
Shaos: Back in the late 90's I wrote a computer simulator
Orion, never having even without seeing the computer. So
nedopisishnye trends owned me for a long time (around the end
of 80)).
cr0acker: By coming Sprinter Shaos already written for him
builder of the Mandelbrot set. It is this builder and showed
that machines with a closed architecture quickly die, and that
confirmed.
Shaos: Still, for the sake of purity of stories we should say
that the builder of the Mandelbrot set, I wrote after receiving
the Sprinter:). My idea was then to develop more hardware and
firmware for a "flexible" architecture of a sprinter, to the
Mandelbrot set was constructed in much faster - it would have
shown superiority of the hardware-software approach over a
purely software, but Peters did not publish a template design
for its large Altera - Sprinter heart, and without the layout
to do there was nothing, it is likely to burn and Altera, and
the computer.
cr0acker: But I digress a bit:). Duc here, NedoPC - it's just a
computer with a simplified system interface. After all, in
fact, a modern computer from a programmable calculator is
different only interface. The first PCs with us, and in the
West have been made precisely kalkulyatornym interface:). After
all, modern PCs spend the lion's share of his time is drawing
to an interface. Now, of course, we are not talking about any
kalkulyatornom interface or the command line MS DOS. Now we are
talking about something new, what - I still do not know
myself:). The ultimate goal of the project NedoPC is creating
computers that are compatible among themselves and with other
platforms.
Shaos: Not compatible with each other processors may be
compatible on the level of high-level languages. Now this
language is the language of RW1 in the form of a compiler RW1P2
(Support ZX, Orion, Radio-86RK, Specialist and partially Palm -
perhaps the simple addition of new platforms and processors).
Unfortunately, compatibility and flexibility given to us at the
expense of performance. In general, the project will NedoPC
creation of a variety of innovative approaches and paradigms in
the field of Software and Hardware.
CHRV: If we talk about the global goal, then its long as such
no. And so we have a definite plan of work. Part of it is
already known: 1) IDE Controller (for Nemo; scheme was
published in the open study sources and was updated NedoPC
group); 2) ATM Turbo version 7.10 (on ATM Turbo all the raw
materials and
Firmware obtained through the work of Maxim and Timonina
negotiations with his company MikroArt; all the technical
information tion, including files for the production of
printed circuit boards, re given to employees on an entirely
voluntary MikroArt beginning crystals. I will say even more:
the agreement on aid
in the firmware native PLA (1556HL8) used in the scheme
ATM);
3) VGA converter to the ATM turbo (and possibly other machines);
4) The universal controller for keyboard / mouse;
5) KAY-2005 (it is rather the working title of the project than
a proper but the board, for they will be taken rastaktovki
and major ports with a On the original computer, but the
circuitry will differ Camping is not even hard, it will be
radically different from the original signal, as will be
built on the FPGA, and generally quite
many differences in the conceptual solutions).
Perhaps most interesting part of the people who would like to
get live Speck, "but who do not want to climb a soldering iron
in fee. A KAI-2005, I plan to promote as an electronic
Designer for learning the basics of computing and engineering
computing.
Shaos: Purpose - to bestow humanity (and no more, no less:)
WB> Your opinion about the prospects of progress of the
hardware of the Spectrum in the near future.
cr0acker: There are many clones of the Spectrum, but none of
them bears no progress: (. Personally, I think we should upgrade
Spectrum kernel itself. That is, replace the processor Z80 for
anything else, though at the same Z180. I have nothing to say
about the iron will not, except to say that now everything
depends on the OS. Without OS super-steep iron is no different
from iron, they have even functions will be the same: warm air.
Can partly to please and partly to disappoint spektrumistov:
some new version of OS already have. True, it works only on an
ATM Turbo 2 +.
Shaos: Prospects, as always, vague:). I think that
success will be an approach that finds a buyer, and
in the West (which will give the opportunity to sell in Russia
the same device, but at a discount). On the other hand, the
Spectrum-compatible machines in the West need to sell very
carefully so as not to break the patents and licenses
commercial firms, which are still protect someone's rights in
different parts of the ZX Spectrum (a large This affects the
Roma). In this sense, the approach proved very successful
company, "Peters Plus: Their Sprinter is not a pure a clone of
the Spectrum, rather it is a hardware emulator, and the use of
the Roma in emulators is not punishable (recall that in
Sprinter last modification Roma were not sewn into the ROM and
loaded from the hard drive at startup programs, Spectrum).
WB> Your vision of the necessary areas of progress.
cr0acker: The project 'hinge' is the 3 directions.
1) As soon as possible meeting the needs of spektrumistov
in hardware and the resolution of existing technical
problems. Here
things are moving at full speed, but there is a vacuum of
finance Sov. I can list specific steps:
a) Production Controller IDE;
b) triggering the production of circuit boards ATM Turbo 2 +.
Now everything is ready for production. Technical
documentation
for the producer is made. The calculation is obtained. Not
enough ma logo: Finance. But I think by September we will
solve this problem.
c) Creating a VGA converter, which will revitalize the
already-soo isting Spectrum, which are in the hands of users
carriers, but are not used in the absence of the mouth
REFER display information such as "Soviet Monitor. Work in
this direction came on the homestretch. I think the detail
her about this project raskazhet CHRV.
CHRV: Definitely: in this direction was needed. Support for
modern peripherals, at the moment, the most important challenge
for developers. Agree to buy a card that quietly inserted into
the body ATX, VGA, and keyboard plugged in - no Dream Is
spektrumista, Spectrum is overgrown kilometers MGTFa, and parts
lying in ruins on the table. You may say to me: yes the same
PC. No, it's not PC, it's evolution and progress, you first
turn on and see what's inside.
Shaos: As a cheaper alternative would be to offer
RGB-PAL converter, which connects to any modern TV via RCA
connectors.
cr0acker: 2) Development of a new iron. There are two
directions:
a) A computer that would, on the one hand, the Spectrum, but
with another - NedoPC. We are developing such a system, it is
called KAY-2005/NedoPC-180-A. In principle, if all goes well,
this is a true breakthrough. I can still only say that the CPU
This system will cost Z180, as well as the VGA output will be
on board. Will it be done, depends only on spektrumistov.
According to the plan CHRV, this project should be a litmus
test: need spektrumistam new hardware or not.
b) Creation of a purely NedoPC computers. In this direction
works Shaos, developing his NedoPC-85-A, based on the i8085. I
think about this project, he raskazhet himself.
Shaos: The plans not only on the basis of NedoPC 8085, I would
like to touch and poyuzat all the popular and cheap
microprocessors and microcontrollers (in particular, PIC16Fxxx,
PIC18Fxxx, MC68HC08, MC68HC11, MC68000, Z8, Rabbit, etc.). All
work in this direction are taking into account several aspects,
including: design simplicity, low cost and repeatability to
people without special experience could repeat any of our
design.
cr0acker: 3) Development of a PC with a fundamentally new
architecture. In this direction, he worked mainly with his
Lermax RVM. Roughly speaking, RVM - pereAmiga it:).
Shaos: RWM - an attempt to implement a distributed approach in
the field of industrial automation (and more), but until the
end work is not visible.
WB> What is the history of the group, its name, your
acquaintance, as it all started; currently (within tactful:)).
CHRV and cr0acker on 'sisopnike' in Moscow
cr0acker: History Group - dark matter. It started with my
familiarity with Shaosom. Shaos then lived in Yekaterinburg,
and I'm in Phnom Penh, the Kingdom of Cambodia. The official
date of creation NedoPC team (note, team, and not the group) is
out NedoPC Sprinter SDK; it was a package of programming to
Sprinter. Then came my rhymes CRC for sprinters. Then the
group's activities slowed down somewhat, but after I January
2004 met CHRV. In July 2004, was formed NedoPC group as the
Moscow branch NedoPC team.
CHRV: It all started with my acquaintance with Maxim Timonina
(Maksagor). First there were delusions, then began to emerge of
some real thing. At that time I was Sprinter2000 (sorry that it
has ceased production). Then met with other Sprinteristami - in
particular, with Vladimir Karpenko (cr0acker) and Alexander
Shabarshina (Shaos). Authorship the name of the group remains
to Alexander Shabarshina, which in currently develops
electronic space 'burzhuyandii' (USA). Actually, the group now
consists of four people. Directly involved in the design only
two people (I Karpenko). Maxim more engaged koordinatorskoy
activities and will engage in foreign affairs (in particular,
on ATM).
Shaos: Now I have moved from Yekaterinburg
New York, but it is not
prevents me from actively working on "NedoPC
Project "and is constantly
be on your site
http://shaos.ru/nedopc/
(Which was created in
October 2002 me and my wife, designer
OlgaGa - think
this is the real
Date of Birth NedoPC
as a phenomenon of nature).
Prefix team and try to assert themselves as
about the team emerged with
filing cr0acker-a shortly before
Sprinter SDK by NedoPC
team; to this Project
NedoPC "was (and remains) a non-profit
Shaos project accumulate schim alternative
ideas and developments in the field perpendicular to pisishnomu
mainstream (it is not only and not just the Spectrum).
WB> What would be the model for promoting new developments in
mass.
cr0acker: Model development while promoting is fulfilled.
After the closure of the firm Nemo single center Spectrum does
not exist. iS-DOS went to the city Balashov to Comrade.
Ilyasovu. Iron is lost. Now we are trying to achieve
distribution of our iron through the newspaper "ABZ @ ts" and
Ilyasova. Get it or not, I do not know. I only say that the
discrepancies in the way spektrumistov I do not understand. For
example, advertisements were sent to 30 controllers (Our
"hardware") by snail-mail - received only one response from
person to whom ads were sent three times.
CHRV: Until we have the following model. The first development
is sold virtually at cost, the money will be spent on
preparations for the next development. Now an interest on the
part of 'Bourgeois', perhaps something will be sold there (for
profit). Unfortunately, the majority of our community is
totally insolvent, and therefore we are forced to engage in the
development of devices, it is not related to the Speccy, to be
able to have the means to development (the cost of developing
devices are always many times greater than the cost of the
device). In future devices, depending on complexity, we will
invest a certain percentage of profits. But will opportunity to
get the product free of charge: for example, I plan to one to
collect a fee ATM at their own expense and, as a prize exhibit
on competition "Your Game" (see the newspaper "Passage"). Will
also be Discounts are developers who are distinguished by their
activity (who specifically, will be resolved within the group
NedoPC). And, of course, there will be a cumulative reduction:
all who have anything acquired, has a discount on our devices.
Shaos: I prefer the idea of full access to information
(charts, PCB layout, source code), and the commercial direction
NedoPC movement (represented by the Muscovites from NedoPC
group) should help those who are unwilling or unable to spend
time and money on processing of public information. But this
project NedoPC basically never stops be a non-profit and
open-minded extraordinary movement personalities.
WB> your optimism / pessimism.
cr0acker: My optimism / pessimism - loose concept, and depends
only on the situation on the Spectrum:).
CHRV: While, of course, more pessimism than optimism. In the
current situation of community self-blame. Total outrage (but
otherwise did not call it) for distributing software over
networks forced to resign from Speke more than half of active
people. A lack of modern software has created the lack of
demand for iron - Last manufacturers, Nemo and Peters Plus,
closed their development. And, of course, the overall situation
in the country is not conducive to Google
Язык оригинала:Язык перевода:
Показать:ПереводОригинал
Other articles:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interview - an interview with the newly formed group zhelezyachnikov from Moscow: NedoPC team / group.
|
|
|
