Mark J. Koch
@markjkoch.bsky.social
Retired Digital Alchemist. Cyber Monk. Technologist. Containment Specialist at -redacted-. Sun Microsystems Labs Alumni. Former SFX specialist at Blue Man Group. Hobbies: Game Design in Java/JavaFX, Analog Synth, PCB design, Robots, Gardening, Cooking.
I've made a lot of progress on my #neuromancerpc restoration and it's largely playable (let's call it alpha), but I'm not done reverse engineering the original game's data files... #neuromancer #java #javafx #retrogaming #gamedev
January 24, 2026 at 4:29 AM
I've made a lot of progress on my #neuromancerpc restoration and it's largely playable (let's call it alpha), but I'm not done reverse engineering the original game's data files... #neuromancer #java #javafx #retrogaming #gamedev
Here's a video tour of my Rack Synth progress. Pretty much working and making noises. Lot's of tuning to do but it works!!! Will spend the next two months documenting on GIThub.
#asmr-synth #electronics #synth #eurorack
#asmr-synth #electronics #synth #eurorack
November 30, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Here's a video tour of my Rack Synth progress. Pretty much working and making noises. Lot's of tuning to do but it works!!! Will spend the next two months documenting on GIThub.
#asmr-synth #electronics #synth #eurorack
#asmr-synth #electronics #synth #eurorack
Now that my multi-day cooking adventure is done, soldering up the fourth #PCB in my modular #synth project. Hope to have a working sound machine in a couple more days. #asmr-synth #soldering #electronics
November 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Now that my multi-day cooking adventure is done, soldering up the fourth #PCB in my modular #synth project. Hope to have a working sound machine in a couple more days. #asmr-synth #soldering #electronics
Reposted by Mark J. Koch
I wrote an obituary of celebrated game developer Rebecca Heineman for Ars Technica:
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
Celebrated game developer Rebecca Heineman dies at age 62
The gaming community mourns a beloved mentor and LGBTQ+ advocate with a storied career.
arstechnica.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I wrote an obituary of celebrated game developer Rebecca Heineman for Ars Technica:
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...
My end of the year goal is to make this pile of circuits into a working analog #synth. Then, and only then, am I allowed to go back to #gamedev on my #javafx #neuromancer PC remake while sipping egg nog. Too many hobbies.
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My end of the year goal is to make this pile of circuits into a working analog #synth. Then, and only then, am I allowed to go back to #gamedev on my #javafx #neuromancer PC remake while sipping egg nog. Too many hobbies.
One of my for-fun #gamedev projects involves restoring an old PC game called #neuromancer which is based loosely on the book by William Gibson. One of the folks who worked on the original is Rebecca Heineman @burgerbecky.bsky.social , who passed away this week. RIP Rebecca. You are not forgotten.
November 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
One of my for-fun #gamedev projects involves restoring an old PC game called #neuromancer which is based loosely on the book by William Gibson. One of the folks who worked on the original is Rebecca Heineman @burgerbecky.bsky.social , who passed away this week. RIP Rebecca. You are not forgotten.
A nice way to end the week! Got my #synth module working. Based on an open source design by Hagiwo. #RasPi #Pico2 based and using Arduino libraries, generates waves from tables or math. I added OLED and UI code. I think the PCB components need work as the output looks a little funky. #asmr-synth
October 4, 2025 at 1:20 AM
A nice way to end the week! Got my #synth module working. Based on an open source design by Hagiwo. #RasPi #Pico2 based and using Arduino libraries, generates waves from tables or math. I added OLED and UI code. I think the PCB components need work as the output looks a little funky. #asmr-synth
#synth rack progress! One regulator wouldn't start up, so it took a deeper read into the data sheet to realize I'd missed some components needed for voltages above 5V (a zener and cap). #Zener ended up being a stack of Zeners to achieve desired value. Not my prettiest fix. #pcb #kicad #electronics
September 27, 2025 at 10:17 PM
#synth rack progress! One regulator wouldn't start up, so it took a deeper read into the data sheet to realize I'd missed some components needed for voltages above 5V (a zener and cap). #Zener ended up being a stack of Zeners to achieve desired value. Not my prettiest fix. #pcb #kicad #electronics
I don’t have a #Mouser parts purchasing problem! I can stop any time I want. #kicad #pcb #engineering
September 24, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I don’t have a #Mouser parts purchasing problem! I can stop any time I want. #kicad #pcb #engineering
My #JLCPCB bounty included my prototype #PCB s for a new type of rack #synth that I am thinking about. Think #eurorack but dragged into the new millennium. Backplane has two #I2C busses, slot detection, and 32 negotiated patch signals. Slightly larger such that old ER modules can nest inside.
September 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Yay! The main #PCB for my MOS #KIM-1 replica arrived today from #JLCPCB! The sub-boards seem to fit. Bringup will take awhile since there's a gross chip-pin-numbering error on one of the smaller boards and I'll have to re-fab it. But I'll be able to partially assemble it and test a few things.
September 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
When your latest #PCB uses a #PCI connector (super dirt cheap) and you want the customer to know that they should not even be tempted to plug it into a PC. I used the connector but the pinout and voltages are nowhere near those of PC Cards. At least the warning will be entertaining. #KiCAD
September 8, 2025 at 4:38 AM
It's alive! Keypad/Display #PCB module for my #kim-1 replica is working! Mostly based on the original 1970s #schematic, using modern parts. I wrote a PCB test fixture using Arduino and #rp2040 #raspberrypipico module from #adafruit. My first time using a rp2040 was mostly painless. #65C02
August 28, 2025 at 9:20 PM
It's alive! Keypad/Display #PCB module for my #kim-1 replica is working! Mostly based on the original 1970s #schematic, using modern parts. I wrote a PCB test fixture using Arduino and #rp2040 #raspberrypipico module from #adafruit. My first time using a rp2040 was mostly painless. #65C02
Tracking the person delivering my #UPS package. This individual should get a job in professional gerrymandering. Has driven past my neighborhood twice already and returned to multiple places they were before. Package is also an hour after the original delivery window. This is performance art.
August 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Tracking the person delivering my #UPS package. This individual should get a job in professional gerrymandering. Has driven past my neighborhood twice already and returned to multiple places they were before. Package is also an hour after the original delivery window. This is performance art.
When a billionaire/celebrity/philanthropist looks at your profile on LinkedIn and you’re not sure if you should be elated or worried.
August 24, 2025 at 1:21 AM
When a billionaire/celebrity/philanthropist looks at your profile on LinkedIn and you’re not sure if you should be elated or worried.
My #analytical brain, every time I touch something and get a #shock: "I've been sitting still for five minutes! Why am I loosing so many #electrons so quickly? Is there something I can do about it?" #zap
August 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
My #analytical brain, every time I touch something and get a #shock: "I've been sitting still for five minutes! Why am I loosing so many #electrons so quickly? Is there something I can do about it?" #zap
This is a public service announcement for you to support your local PBS station! #PBS #RickSteves
August 15, 2025 at 4:04 PM
This is a public service announcement for you to support your local PBS station! #PBS #RickSteves
My @oshpark.bsky.social PCBs arrived. They are part of my #kicad project to create a #KIM-1 #65c02 computer replica, with a twist. I started with the original schematic but broke it into SMT modules. Each module is a castellated #PCB "stamp" for a larger main board that I'm finishing up.
August 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
My @oshpark.bsky.social PCBs arrived. They are part of my #kicad project to create a #KIM-1 #65c02 computer replica, with a twist. I started with the original schematic but broke it into SMT modules. Each module is a castellated #PCB "stamp" for a larger main board that I'm finishing up.
If they ever reboot "Back to the Future", they should use the #CyberTruck. Except, on this new set of movies, to activate time travel, you'd have to rear-end the CyberTruck using a different vehicle at 88MPH. It would help add one more metaphor to the "Back" part of the name in the title.
July 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
If they ever reboot "Back to the Future", they should use the #CyberTruck. Except, on this new set of movies, to activate time travel, you'd have to rear-end the CyberTruck using a different vehicle at 88MPH. It would help add one more metaphor to the "Back" part of the name in the title.
Me repeatedly asking my partner if they want to go to Sushi: "I don't know. Maybe next week."
Me asking my partner once about attending a ham radio meetup: "Yes! Let's go!"
Someday little nigiri, some day soon.
Me asking my partner once about attending a ham radio meetup: "Yes! Let's go!"
Someday little nigiri, some day soon.
June 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Me repeatedly asking my partner if they want to go to Sushi: "I don't know. Maybe next week."
Me asking my partner once about attending a ham radio meetup: "Yes! Let's go!"
Someday little nigiri, some day soon.
Me asking my partner once about attending a ham radio meetup: "Yes! Let's go!"
Someday little nigiri, some day soon.
I am so screwed…
Never trust anyone online whose icon appears to be a photograph of a human being.
June 24, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I am so screwed…
Ughhh! That 2 degree twist on the audio jack. Thanks #kicad! And thus I kick off the official open source version of my custom "tuned" KiCAD library. I can't be that harsh since #EagleCAD included libraries were full of this kind of anomalous shenanigans that gave me trust issues. #PCB
June 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM