L Break Into Program
@breakintoprogram.co.uk
Blog: http://www.breakintoprogram.co.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BreakIntoProgram
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/breakintoprogram
Software developer & electronics dabbler. Restoring & programming vintage computers from Acorn Atom to ZX81.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BreakIntoProgram
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/breakintoprogram
Software developer & electronics dabbler. Restoring & programming vintage computers from Acorn Atom to ZX81.
I was going to subscribe to an online music subscription for the commute into work next year. Tempted to resurrect my Aiwa Walkman and cassette collection. Be cheaper and much more fun.
December 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I was going to subscribe to an online music subscription for the commute into work next year. Tempted to resurrect my Aiwa Walkman and cassette collection. Be cheaper and much more fun.
It's been an interesting retro year, not at all what I expected. I got my first retro laptop, and I love it, an Elonex LT 386SXP/16. It's got a gorgeous orange gas plasma VGA display and a really nice keyboard.
December 28, 2025 at 11:42 AM
It's been an interesting retro year, not at all what I expected. I got my first retro laptop, and I love it, an Elonex LT 386SXP/16. It's got a gorgeous orange gas plasma VGA display and a really nice keyboard.
Feeling a bit knackered this morning. Dropped daughter off at airport at 4.30am. Anyhow, you know the drill: cat, coffee, crossword…
December 28, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Feeling a bit knackered this morning. Dropped daughter off at airport at 4.30am. Anyhow, you know the drill: cat, coffee, crossword…
Battery has arrived for the Pokémon cartridge. The (+) pad lifted as I removed the battery. There was flux on the board so suspect this is not the first replacement battery this cartridge has had. Glued the pad back on and soldered a bodge wire back to the resistor. Nothing is ever straightforward!
December 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Battery has arrived for the Pokémon cartridge. The (+) pad lifted as I removed the battery. There was flux on the board so suspect this is not the first replacement battery this cartridge has had. Glued the pad back on and soldered a bodge wire back to the resistor. Nothing is ever straightforward!
Tonight’s movie was chosen by the kids. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. We really enjoyed it. I don’t think it put a foot wrong.
December 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Tonight’s movie was chosen by the kids. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. We really enjoyed it. I don’t think it put a foot wrong.
Current status:
two men are standing next to each other talking about second breakfast
Alt: A hobbit saying: “What about second breakfast?”
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Current status:
Merry Christmas everyone!
December 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Merry Christmas everyone!
Went to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at The Lowry today as our family treat. We’d booked to see it as Covid hit, but that obviously got cancelled due to lockdowns. Excellent show, probably the best I’ve seen in recent years.
December 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Went to see The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe at The Lowry today as our family treat. We’d booked to see it as Covid hit, but that obviously got cancelled due to lockdowns. Excellent show, probably the best I’ve seen in recent years.
At father-in-laws. He’s been clearing the house ahead of his move. Spotted this TV and video combo. Might be able to find a spot for that if he is getting rid.
December 24, 2025 at 3:28 PM
At father-in-laws. He’s been clearing the house ahead of his move. Spotted this TV and video combo. Might be able to find a spot for that if he is getting rid.
How I’m turning up to the Bluesky Christmas party.
December 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
How I’m turning up to the Bluesky Christmas party.
Spent the morning finishing off dejobsearching my life. Most of the job search sites have wised up to the yourname+alias@email.com trick and don’t allow them so a global filter is off the cards. Thankfully the daily spurt of emails has already been reduced to a dribble.
December 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Spent the morning finishing off dejobsearching my life. Most of the job search sites have wised up to the yourname+alias@email.com trick and don’t allow them so a global filter is off the cards. Thankfully the daily spurt of emails has already been reduced to a dribble.
Oh, this is the Lego kit we started building yesterday. Youngest finished it this morning. Very seasonal.
December 22, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Oh, this is the Lego kit we started building yesterday. Youngest finished it this morning. Very seasonal.
Youngest has just lined up a job for me. A Pokémon Emerald cartridge. Needs a new backup battery.
December 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Youngest has just lined up a job for me. A Pokémon Emerald cartridge. Needs a new backup battery.
Having a bit of a C64 day today. The proper rated fuses for the PSU I've built turned up this morning - that's now screwed together and raring to go. Having a coffee, then going to dig out a C64 that I * think * works to try it on.
December 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Having a bit of a C64 day today. The proper rated fuses for the PSU I've built turned up this morning - that's now screwed together and raring to go. Having a coffee, then going to dig out a C64 that I * think * works to try it on.
Reposted by L Break Into Program
Regency Solitaire II is on sale 56% off. 97% positive. If you think you'll like it, you'll probably love it.
store.steampowered.com/app/2137470/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2137470/...
Save 56% on Regency Solitaire II on Steam
Revisit romantic Regency Britain to build a glorious garden, in this charming solitaire sequel. Tour historic hotspots, silence gossips, and host the season’s most anticipated soiree. Play your cards ...
store.steampowered.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Regency Solitaire II is on sale 56% off. 97% positive. If you think you'll like it, you'll probably love it.
store.steampowered.com/app/2137470/...
store.steampowered.com/app/2137470/...
Happy Solstice to those who celebrate.
Solstice Music (NES) - Title Screen Theme
YouTube video by explod2A03
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Happy Solstice to those who celebrate.
Nerding out with the youngest this evening building Legos, talking about films, what he's been up to at Uni, and jailbreaking consoles.
December 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Nerding out with the youngest this evening building Legos, talking about films, what he's been up to at Uni, and jailbreaking consoles.
Extra weekend Geekery meeting this afternoon. Lots of interesting chatter about AI, cars and prototyping electronics projects. And @dexterstechlab.bsky.social brought this cool detector in…
December 21, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Extra weekend Geekery meeting this afternoon. Lots of interesting chatter about AI, cars and prototyping electronics projects. And @dexterstechlab.bsky.social brought this cool detector in…
You know the drill: Cat, Coffee, Chores, Crossword, Code, and Christmas Clothing.
December 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
You know the drill: Cat, Coffee, Chores, Crossword, Code, and Christmas Clothing.
Reposted by L Break Into Program
Looking for a fun indoor project to try during your Christmas break? Have a LEGO Mindstorms kit? Then you might want to try building my Viper Printer v3.0!
It's a EV3-based dot-matrix printer.
www.joshrenaud.com/family/archi...
Models and Python code here:
github.com/Viper-Bots/v...
It's a EV3-based dot-matrix printer.
www.joshrenaud.com/family/archi...
Models and Python code here:
github.com/Viper-Bots/v...
Revisiting my dot-matrix EV3 Lego printer
This year I decided to revisit the dot-matrix Lego printer that I first built and programmed in 2017. The original design was the result of a lot of iterating, but it still had some significant pro…
www.joshrenaud.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Looking for a fun indoor project to try during your Christmas break? Have a LEGO Mindstorms kit? Then you might want to try building my Viper Printer v3.0!
It's a EV3-based dot-matrix printer.
www.joshrenaud.com/family/archi...
Models and Python code here:
github.com/Viper-Bots/v...
It's a EV3-based dot-matrix printer.
www.joshrenaud.com/family/archi...
Models and Python code here:
github.com/Viper-Bots/v...
I forgot to post this the other day, spotted for the first time on my walk back from Pear Mill. An Archimedes Screw, presumably connected to a generator. Next time I'm in the area I'm going to try and get down there (it was on the other side of the river) for a proper gander.
December 20, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I forgot to post this the other day, spotted for the first time on my walk back from Pear Mill. An Archimedes Screw, presumably connected to a generator. Next time I'm in the area I'm going to try and get down there (it was on the other side of the river) for a proper gander.
And whilst we're on the subject of copyright theft, my favourite workaround is the illegal prime number that represents an integer representation of the C program for DeCSS, the DVD cracking code. A program can be represented as binary, and binary numbers can be represented as decimal integers...
A113969 - OEIS
oeis.org
December 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
And whilst we're on the subject of copyright theft, my favourite workaround is the illegal prime number that represents an integer representation of the C program for DeCSS, the DVD cracking code. A program can be represented as binary, and binary numbers can be represented as decimal integers...
Watching @catintoprogram.bsky.social surveying her domain.
December 20, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Watching @catintoprogram.bsky.social surveying her domain.
Do you remember grassing on games pirates for the reward?
December 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Do you remember grassing on games pirates for the reward?
Mrs B is currently on the M40 heading home with youngest. Treated myself to a full English in the local pub. The coffee here is very good.
December 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Mrs B is currently on the M40 heading home with youngest. Treated myself to a full English in the local pub. The coffee here is very good.