SolderDemon
@solderdemon.bsky.social
Open hardware kits and retro CPU boards.
Full transparency. Real learning. No emulators.
Build it. Solder it. Understand it.
https://solderdemon.com
Full transparency. Real learning. No emulators.
Build it. Solder it. Understand it.
https://solderdemon.com
It created the first software economy
The 8080 made software a business.
Operating systems.
Games.
Business applications.
Developer communities.
Hardware enabled it.
Software scaled it.
The 8080 made software a business.
Operating systems.
Games.
Business applications.
Developer communities.
Hardware enabled it.
Software scaled it.
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
It created the first software economy
The 8080 made software a business.
Operating systems.
Games.
Business applications.
Developer communities.
Hardware enabled it.
Software scaled it.
The 8080 made software a business.
Operating systems.
Games.
Business applications.
Developer communities.
Hardware enabled it.
Software scaled it.
The ancestor of modern CPUs
The Intel 8080 didn’t just succeed — it became a template.
It inspired the Zilog Z80, Intel 8086, and the entire x86 lineage.
Your laptop still carries its legacy.
The Intel 8080 didn’t just succeed — it became a template.
It inspired the Zilog Z80, Intel 8086, and the entire x86 lineage.
Your laptop still carries its legacy.
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
The ancestor of modern CPUs
The Intel 8080 didn’t just succeed — it became a template.
It inspired the Zilog Z80, Intel 8086, and the entire x86 lineage.
Your laptop still carries its legacy.
The Intel 8080 didn’t just succeed — it became a template.
It inspired the Zilog Z80, Intel 8086, and the entire x86 lineage.
Your laptop still carries its legacy.
Just 2 MHz. And it was enough.
2 MHz sounds small today.
In 1974, it changed everything.
It was enough to turn computers into useful tools, not experiments.
Innovation isn’t about raw power.
It’s about timing.
2 MHz sounds small today.
In 1974, it changed everything.
It was enough to turn computers into useful tools, not experiments.
Innovation isn’t about raw power.
It’s about timing.
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Just 2 MHz. And it was enough.
2 MHz sounds small today.
In 1974, it changed everything.
It was enough to turn computers into useful tools, not experiments.
Innovation isn’t about raw power.
It’s about timing.
2 MHz sounds small today.
In 1974, it changed everything.
It was enough to turn computers into useful tools, not experiments.
Innovation isn’t about raw power.
It’s about timing.
The chip behind the first PC boom
The iconic Altair 8800 was powered by the Intel 8080.
That machine inspired two young developers to write software for it.
Their names were Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
That software became Microsoft’s first product.
The iconic Altair 8800 was powered by the Intel 8080.
That machine inspired two young developers to write software for it.
Their names were Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
That software became Microsoft’s first product.
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
The chip behind the first PC boom
The iconic Altair 8800 was powered by the Intel 8080.
That machine inspired two young developers to write software for it.
Their names were Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
That software became Microsoft’s first product.
The iconic Altair 8800 was powered by the Intel 8080.
That machine inspired two young developers to write software for it.
Their names were Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
That software became Microsoft’s first product.
5 facts about intel 8080
The CPU that unlocked personal computing
In 1974, Intel released the 8080 and computers stopped being lab toys.
For the first time, a single chip was powerful enough to run real software for real people.
This is where personal computing truly began.
The CPU that unlocked personal computing
In 1974, Intel released the 8080 and computers stopped being lab toys.
For the first time, a single chip was powerful enough to run real software for real people.
This is where personal computing truly began.
January 31, 2026 at 8:14 PM
5 facts about intel 8080
The CPU that unlocked personal computing
In 1974, Intel released the 8080 and computers stopped being lab toys.
For the first time, a single chip was powerful enough to run real software for real people.
This is where personal computing truly began.
The CPU that unlocked personal computing
In 1974, Intel released the 8080 and computers stopped being lab toys.
For the first time, a single chip was powerful enough to run real software for real people.
This is where personal computing truly began.
The craziest part: people still design new projects around the Z80 today.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
The craziest part: people still design new projects around the Z80 today.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
The Z80 spread everywhere.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
The Z80 spread everywhere.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
People wrote serious software on the Z80 with kilobytes of memory.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
People wrote serious software on the Z80 with kilobytes of memory.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
The Z80 powered childhoods.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
The Z80 powered childhoods.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
5 facts about the Zilog Z80
The Zilog Z80 is older than most video games and still alive.
It was released in 1976 and is still being manufactured today.
Very few chips can say that.
The Zilog Z80 is older than most video games and still alive.
It was released in 1976 and is still being manufactured today.
Very few chips can say that.
January 30, 2026 at 8:25 PM
5 facts about the Zilog Z80
The Zilog Z80 is older than most video games and still alive.
It was released in 1976 and is still being manufactured today.
Very few chips can say that.
The Zilog Z80 is older than most video games and still alive.
It was released in 1976 and is still being manufactured today.
Very few chips can say that.
The craziest part: people still design new projects around the Z80 today.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
January 30, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The craziest part: people still design new projects around the Z80 today.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
Not for nostalgia, but because it’s simple, predictable, and fun.
Old doesn’t mean useless.
The Z80 spread everywhere.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
January 30, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The Z80 spread everywhere.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
Not just computers, calculators, music gear, arcade machines, industrial hardware.
If it needed a brain in the 80s, there’s a good chance it was a Z80.
People wrote serious software on the Z80 with kilobytes of memory.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
January 30, 2026 at 8:21 PM
People wrote serious software on the Z80 with kilobytes of memory.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
Operating systems, games, compilers all inside limits that feel impossible today.
The Z80 powered childhoods.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
January 30, 2026 at 8:21 PM
The Z80 powered childhoods.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
ZX Spectrum, MSX computers, early home systems, this chip introduced an entire generation to programming and gaming.
I’m continuing to actively develop the project.
I’ve added two new documentation pages:
- toolchain setup
- writing C and Assembly programs for rosco_m68k
I’ve added two new documentation pages:
- toolchain setup
- writing C and Assembly programs for rosco_m68k
January 29, 2026 at 2:22 PM
I’m continuing to actively develop the project.
I’ve added two new documentation pages:
- toolchain setup
- writing C and Assembly programs for rosco_m68k
I’ve added two new documentation pages:
- toolchain setup
- writing C and Assembly programs for rosco_m68k
January 25, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Red pill or green pill?
This is the Matrix
Running on ROSCO M68K
SolderDemon
This is the Matrix
Running on ROSCO M68K
SolderDemon
January 24, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Red pill or green pill?
This is the Matrix
Running on ROSCO M68K
SolderDemon
This is the Matrix
Running on ROSCO M68K
SolderDemon
Preparing the first orders — rosco_m68k kits will start shipping soon
Huge thanks to everyone who ordered, especially early pre-orders. Your support proved there’s real interest and gave me the motivation to keep going.
Huge thanks to everyone who ordered, especially early pre-orders. Your support proved there’s real interest and gave me the motivation to keep going.
January 19, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Preparing the first orders — rosco_m68k kits will start shipping soon
Huge thanks to everyone who ordered, especially early pre-orders. Your support proved there’s real interest and gave me the motivation to keep going.
Huge thanks to everyone who ordered, especially early pre-orders. Your support proved there’s real interest and gave me the motivation to keep going.
No electricity. Just me and the work.
January 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
No electricity. Just me and the work.
Relatable moment, when you’ve been trying to seat a processor into a socket for a full 15 minutes and it still won’t go in 😂
January 10, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Relatable moment, when you’ve been trying to seat a processor into a socket for a full 15 minutes and it still won’t go in 😂
Kits are now available on SolderDemon.
Currently available:
• rosco_m68k — a single-board computer based on the Motorola 68010
• rosco_6502 — a single-board computer based on the 6502
Both are designed for hands-on assembly and learning classic CPU architectures.
Currently available:
• rosco_m68k — a single-board computer based on the Motorola 68010
• rosco_6502 — a single-board computer based on the 6502
Both are designed for hands-on assembly and learning classic CPU architectures.
January 7, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Kits are now available on SolderDemon.
Currently available:
• rosco_m68k — a single-board computer based on the Motorola 68010
• rosco_6502 — a single-board computer based on the 6502
Both are designed for hands-on assembly and learning classic CPU architectures.
Currently available:
• rosco_m68k — a single-board computer based on the Motorola 68010
• rosco_6502 — a single-board computer based on the 6502
Both are designed for hands-on assembly and learning classic CPU architectures.
Just finished a BOM design for hardware kits.
Used Puppeteer to render an HTML template with dynamic data and export it as a PDF.
Surprisingly simple and effective approach.
Open source here:
github.com/ra334/solder...
Used Puppeteer to render an HTML template with dynamic data and export it as a PDF.
Surprisingly simple and effective approach.
Open source here:
github.com/ra334/solder...
December 30, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Just finished a BOM design for hardware kits.
Used Puppeteer to render an HTML template with dynamic data and export it as a PDF.
Surprisingly simple and effective approach.
Open source here:
github.com/ra334/solder...
Used Puppeteer to render an HTML template with dynamic data and export it as a PDF.
Surprisingly simple and effective approach.
Open source here:
github.com/ra334/solder...
I recently came across the RC6502 Apple-1 Replica — a modular 6502-based computer built from separate CPU, RAM, and ROM boards, inspired by the original Apple-1.
I’m thinking about turning it into a kit for my SolderDemon project.
I’m thinking about turning it into a kit for my SolderDemon project.
December 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I recently came across the RC6502 Apple-1 Replica — a modular 6502-based computer built from separate CPU, RAM, and ROM boards, inspired by the original Apple-1.
I’m thinking about turning it into a kit for my SolderDemon project.
I’m thinking about turning it into a kit for my SolderDemon project.
I’m continuing to develop the SolderDemon website. I’ve just added a reviews page. At the moment, reviews can’t be edited yet, but this will be fixed in the near future.
December 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I’m continuing to develop the SolderDemon website. I’ve just added a reviews page. At the moment, reviews can’t be edited yet, but this will be fixed in the near future.
Why build a 40 year old computer in 2025? Because modern computers are black boxes. You tap glass, magic happens. With the rosco_m68k, YOU control every cycle. It’s not about speed; it’s about understanding. It’s the ultimate antidote to abstraction.
December 24, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Why build a 40 year old computer in 2025? Because modern computers are black boxes. You tap glass, magic happens. With the rosco_m68k, YOU control every cycle. It’s not about speed; it’s about understanding. It’s the ultimate antidote to abstraction.