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Iv'e decided to write a Tektronix 4404 emulator so everyone can experience Smalltalk-80 on a 68010. I've started with Brad Parkers amazing sun2 emulator as its 68010, b/w display, MMU. So roughly similar, but much more sophisticated than tek4404. So far the emulator starts (yay), prints some...

As I dig deeper into Tek4404, I discover missing declarations, or even headers with syntax errors that do not compile. I've been fixing them as I go - because I need them - but while it means my disk image is more functional, it is not as-is (and broken). Any thoughts? Some are pretty...

I would like to capture any writes to /dev/console and append it to a log file. Tektronix Uniflex predates mkfifo() I can simply link mylogfile /dev/console - but not sure what happens with multiple writers.. And it would be nice to timestamp the writes too so I was thinking if I create a...

While reverse engineering various commands on the Tektronix 4404 I came across code in the login command that does a check equivalent to: if (!strcmp(argv[0], "su")) behave like substitute user ie if the login command is named "su" it behave differently. So I created a link called su to login...

Well that was fairly brutal. but I have managed to get gcc1.27 built and running on the Tektronix 4404. The native C compiler is kinda terrible, so building gcc - even though back then gcc is fastitiously K&R syntax for bootstrapping, was a lesson in misery. Even if it got through the native...

I am having another go at getting a pair of Micropolis 1304 40MB HD running. Both exhibit the infamous spin up, hold for a time and spin back down. However I think they may have different problems. I happened to touch the aluminium case near the power transistors on one of them, and it was...

[Decided to try and get gcc built for the Tektronix 4404] The native K&R C compiler does not have alloca() AND has no support for embedding asm() How do you implement alloca() in C without being able to manipulate the stack frame? Adam

In my continuing journey of restoring the Tektronix 4404 workstation I've connected with more and more folks that worked on it which is pretty cool. I'm building a 40MB disk image which will contain all software that still exists for Tek4404 and I've found a couple of packages not in...

As I reverse engineer code on the Tek4404, I learn more about exact limits of commands, required formats etc etc. Is there a simple way of generating documentation beyond just text files? Perhaps some nroff based thing? I appreciate not a lot of people will be reading these but it seems right...

My power switch for main unit and storage unit 'work' but the cute little shuttered indicator have snapped off due to age. I found this data sheet on Farnell which looks to be an exact replacement: https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/104875.pdf But there is no reference to it on their actual...

The PSU schematic shown below with neon circled in red The docs say: (C110 and C210 are the large 450uF smoothing caps) But does it mean neon flashing is a "Bad Thing", or simply that it flashes showing its >85V and that is all fine. It makes a faint clicking noise as it flickers. Any ideas?

Hi, I can find replacements for the 0.1uF and 0.022uF Rifa caps in the PSU, but it also has a 0.5uF + 22 Ohms Rifa. I can see through the epoxy (?) there is a 22 ohm 1 watt resistor in series. I cannot find such a thing, do I just buy 0.47uF and add a 22 Ohm resistor? Adam

I'm working on a Tektronix4404 running a flavor of Uniflex. There are no headers for nlist type stuff or anything much at all. Can anyone point me at info about what is in /dev/smem? Adam

Hi, I'm trying to get a Tektronix 4404 AI workstation (eat your heart out chatGPT) running again. 68010 8MHz, 2MB, 40MB disk. The Micropolis 1304 HD seem to be notorious for dying / not spinning up. The CPU part seems fine, I'mn restoring the keyboard (capacitance keyboard foam has turned to...