George Beckett
@markgbeckett.bsky.social
I am an academic, computational scientist, and research-programme manager, working in high-performance computing, though often found tinkering with 1980s 8-bit micros.
Doing a bit more experimenting with ZX81 #Forth multitasking on #Minstrel4th. Combined several example programs from user manual to make a real-time clock. A must-have for a personal computer in 2025! #retrogaming
November 17, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Doing a bit more experimenting with ZX81 #Forth multitasking on #Minstrel4th. Combined several example programs from user manual to make a real-time clock. A must-have for a personal computer in 2025! #retrogaming
@lsstuk.bsky.social and @vrubinobs.bsky.social need your help to train our computing systems to sort through the tens of millions of alerts we will detect every night during the Vera C. Rubin Observatory #LSST survey. www.zooniverse.org/projects/ebe... #capturethecosmos
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.
www.zooniverse.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:59 AM
@lsstuk.bsky.social and @vrubinobs.bsky.social need your help to train our computing systems to sort through the tens of millions of alerts we will detect every night during the Vera C. Rubin Observatory #LSST survey. www.zooniverse.org/projects/ebe... #capturethecosmos
Reposted by George Beckett
I have once again created a charity Retro Computer calendar for 2026!! Last year you helped raise £44 for charity by downloading my calendar. Let's try and beat that this year!! 🙏 Thank you!!
loudscotsbloke.itch.io/retro-comput...
loudscotsbloke.itch.io/retro-comput...
Retro Computer Calendar 2026 by Loudscotsbloke
Retro Computer Calendar 2026
loudscotsbloke.itch.io
November 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I have once again created a charity Retro Computer calendar for 2026!! Last year you helped raise £44 for charity by downloading my calendar. Let's try and beat that this year!! 🙏 Thank you!!
loudscotsbloke.itch.io/retro-comput...
loudscotsbloke.itch.io/retro-comput...
Am pretty happy with how ZX-FORTH is running on #Minstrel4th. But, before I tackle any significant projects, I need to get `LOAD` and `STORE` working. They're still expecting a #ZX81 cassette interface. #retrogaming
November 8, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Am pretty happy with how ZX-FORTH is running on #Minstrel4th. But, before I tackle any significant projects, I need to get `LOAD` and `STORE` working. They're still expecting a #ZX81 cassette interface. #retrogaming
I have ported Tree Forth/ ZX-Forth from #zx81 to #JupiterAce/ #Minstrel4th. With no display generation to worry about, #Forth runs amazingly well on Minstrel 4th. It can find all primes in first 500 integers, using Sieve of Eratosthene, in well under a second. #RETROGAMING github.com/markgbeckett...
November 2, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I have ported Tree Forth/ ZX-Forth from #zx81 to #JupiterAce/ #Minstrel4th. With no display generation to worry about, #Forth runs amazingly well on Minstrel 4th. It can find all primes in first 500 integers, using Sieve of Eratosthene, in well under a second. #RETROGAMING github.com/markgbeckett...
What is most odd with this screenshot of the Sieve of Eratosthenes (algorithm for computing primes), running in ZX-Forth in EightyOne emulator? #retrogaming
November 1, 2025 at 6:47 PM
What is most odd with this screenshot of the Sieve of Eratosthenes (algorithm for computing primes), running in ZX-Forth in EightyOne emulator? #retrogaming
Reposted by George Beckett
Did you know? When scientists began brainstorming @vrubinobs.bsky.social 3 decades ago, they had the title Dark Matter Telescope in mind? With its wide field of view and sensitivity to the faintest objects, Rubin will reveal how dark matter and dark energy shape the universe. 🔭 #darkmatterday.
October 31, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Did you know? When scientists began brainstorming @vrubinobs.bsky.social 3 decades ago, they had the title Dark Matter Telescope in mind? With its wide field of view and sensitivity to the faintest objects, Rubin will reveal how dark matter and dark energy shape the universe. 🔭 #darkmatterday.
Testing out my new #MinstrelInputMonitor from @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk for a game of #PerilousSwamp. #zx81 #retrogaming
October 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Testing out my new #MinstrelInputMonitor from @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk for a game of #PerilousSwamp. #zx81 #retrogaming
Making good progress with disassembly of Tree Forth/ ZX Forth ROM for #ZX81 and #Minstrel3. Disassembly is about two thirds done and source now builds for PAL and NTSC, both original and improved code. #forth #retrogaming github.com/markgbeckett...
October 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Making good progress with disassembly of Tree Forth/ ZX Forth ROM for #ZX81 and #Minstrel3. Disassembly is about two thirds done and source now builds for PAL and NTSC, both original and improved code. #forth #retrogaming github.com/markgbeckett...
Very interesting read for #retrocomputing fans www.bbc.com/future/artic...
A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks
From lectures by Stephen Hawking to the letters of British politician Neil Kinnock – it's a race against time to save the historical treasures locked away on old floppy disks.
www.bbc.com
October 10, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Very interesting read for #retrocomputing fans www.bbc.com/future/artic...
My shift is done, but there is still a couple of hours to catch #doorsopenday at #roeopen. Last entry at 4:15pm.
September 28, 2025 at 12:57 PM
My shift is done, but there is still a couple of hours to catch #doorsopenday at #roeopen. Last entry at 4:15pm.
Reposted by George Beckett
New blog post in which I give myself a lot of work combining Z80 code from several sources to build the enhanced Forth ROM for the Minstrel 4th.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/09/revi...
An even more extra work by choosing to do it using an archaic assembler that I happen to like.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/09/revi...
An even more extra work by choosing to do it using an archaic assembler that I happen to like.
Revisiting the Minstrel 4th Enhanced Forth ROM [Patreon Preview]
When I relaunched the Minstrel 4th earlier this year, I added some more ROMs to the standard ROM image. These included the ZX80 and ZX81 BAS...
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk
September 28, 2025 at 12:10 PM
New blog post in which I give myself a lot of work combining Z80 code from several sources to build the enhanced Forth ROM for the Minstrel 4th.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/09/revi...
An even more extra work by choosing to do it using an archaic assembler that I happen to like.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/09/revi...
An even more extra work by choosing to do it using an archaic assembler that I happen to like.
September 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Have been delving into Husband #Forth, a replacement ROM for #ZX81. It would not run out of box on @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk #Minstrel3, so I have set out to find out why. A work in progress, but I now have both H Forth (and its TS100 predecessor, Tree Forth) running on the Mistrel3! #retrogaming
September 11, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Have been delving into Husband #Forth, a replacement ROM for #ZX81. It would not run out of box on @tynemouthsoftware.co.uk #Minstrel3, so I have set out to find out why. A work in progress, but I now have both H Forth (and its TS100 predecessor, Tree Forth) running on the Mistrel3! #retrogaming
Reposted by George Beckett
New blog post - a minimal implementation of the compute and display (or slow) mode display for ZX81 or Minstrel 3 hardware.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/mini...
I got this down to about 200 bytes of Z80, so let's go through all of them and see what they do.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/mini...
I got this down to about 200 bytes of Z80, so let's go through all of them and see what they do.
August 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
New blog post - a minimal implementation of the compute and display (or slow) mode display for ZX81 or Minstrel 3 hardware.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/mini...
I got this down to about 200 bytes of Z80, so let's go through all of them and see what they do.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/mini...
I got this down to about 200 bytes of Z80, so let's go through all of them and see what they do.
Reposted by George Beckett
New blog post - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/pet-...
An update to the PET 2001 6540-010 character ROM replacement board, now with switch on the side to select between the versions for BASIC 2 and 4 or BASIC 1 (which was previously hidden under the chip)
An update to the PET 2001 6540-010 character ROM replacement board, now with switch on the side to select between the versions for BASIC 2 and 4 or BASIC 1 (which was previously hidden under the chip)
August 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
New blog post - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/08/pet-...
An update to the PET 2001 6540-010 character ROM replacement board, now with switch on the side to select between the versions for BASIC 2 and 4 or BASIC 1 (which was previously hidden under the chip)
An update to the PET 2001 6540-010 character ROM replacement board, now with switch on the side to select between the versions for BASIC 2 and 4 or BASIC 1 (which was previously hidden under the chip)
Reposted by George Beckett
Last day. Don't miss out.
Less than a week left to take advantage of 15% off everything throughout July to celebrate 15 years of Tynemouth Software.
www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
July 31, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Last day. Don't miss out.
Today is #embraceyourgeekness day, which I will celebrate with a game of #Centipede on the #Minstrel4D; written by Colin Dooley and ported (w/ sound and joystick support) to #Minstrel4D and code for spider finished by me - github.com/markgbeckett... #retrogaming
July 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Today is #embraceyourgeekness day, which I will celebrate with a game of #Centipede on the #Minstrel4D; written by Colin Dooley and ported (w/ sound and joystick support) to #Minstrel4D and code for spider finished by me - github.com/markgbeckett... #retrogaming
Reposted by George Beckett
Long shot, but I don't suppose anyone has an IBM Model M they would be willing to part with?
Don't fancy risking a random one on ebay.
Ideally within the UK to avoid shipping and things.
Don't fancy risking a random one on ebay.
Ideally within the UK to avoid shipping and things.
July 2, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Long shot, but I don't suppose anyone has an IBM Model M they would be willing to part with?
Don't fancy risking a random one on ebay.
Ideally within the UK to avoid shipping and things.
Don't fancy risking a random one on ebay.
Ideally within the UK to avoid shipping and things.
Reposted by George Beckett
15 years ago this month, I set up Tynemouth Software. So all this month, there is 15% off everything at my Tindie store. www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
Tynemouth Software on Tindie
I write a blog about old computers, repairing them, upgrading them, replacing them. Read more at blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk
www.tindie.com
July 1, 2025 at 1:55 PM
15 years ago this month, I set up Tynemouth Software. So all this month, there is 15% off everything at my Tindie store. www.tindie.com/stores/tynem...
Reposted by George Beckett
New blog post - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/06/zx81...
My original attempt at writing a post about porting ZX81 BASIC to the Minstrel 4th. It went on far too long and into far too much detail.
I decided to add more diagrams to it and my Patreon supporters seemed to like it, so here it is.
My original attempt at writing a post about porting ZX81 BASIC to the Minstrel 4th. It went on far too long and into far too much detail.
I decided to add more diagrams to it and my Patreon supporters seemed to like it, so here it is.
June 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
New blog post - blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2025/06/zx81...
My original attempt at writing a post about porting ZX81 BASIC to the Minstrel 4th. It went on far too long and into far too much detail.
I decided to add more diagrams to it and my Patreon supporters seemed to like it, so here it is.
My original attempt at writing a post about porting ZX81 BASIC to the Minstrel 4th. It went on far too long and into far too much detail.
I decided to add more diagrams to it and my Patreon supporters seemed to like it, so here it is.
From later this year, @vrubinobs.bsky.social will produce 10M #kafka alerts per night, capturing the dynamics of the night sky. Here in @lsstuk.bsky.social, we're getting ready. The #lasair Alert Broker is being put through its paces with test streams. #capturethecosmos
June 27, 2025 at 8:52 AM
From later this year, @vrubinobs.bsky.social will produce 10M #kafka alerts per night, capturing the dynamics of the night sky. Here in @lsstuk.bsky.social, we're getting ready. The #lasair Alert Broker is being put through its paces with test streams. #capturethecosmos
Reposted by George Beckett
The first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will be revealed today. This image of the Virgo cluster, which incudes 2 spiral galaxies and 3 merging galaxies, gives a sneak preview of what we can expect. Read how EPCC is supporting Rubin's Legacy Survey of Space and Time: edin.ac/40f1n2F
June 23, 2025 at 8:53 AM
The first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will be revealed today. This image of the Virgo cluster, which incudes 2 spiral galaxies and 3 merging galaxies, gives a sneak preview of what we can expect. Read how EPCC is supporting Rubin's Legacy Survey of Space and Time: edin.ac/40f1n2F