A 2025 manual to the DEC PDP-1
4 days ago
- #PiDP-1
- #RetroComputing
- #PDP-1
- The PiDP-1 project aims to revive the PDP-1, a 1959 interactive computer, using a Raspberry Pi-based replica.
- The PDP-1 was one of the first commercially available interactive computers, designed by Ben Gurley in just three and a half months.
- The PiDP-1 software can run on any Linux machine with a virtual front panel, not requiring the physical PiDP-1 hardware.
- Two versions of the PiDP-1 replica exist: a 'Console version' and a 'Rack version', inspired by different historical PDP-1 designs.
- Key contributors to PDP-1 preservation include Norbert Landsteiner, the Computer History Museum restoration team, and Al Kossow's bitsavers.org.
- The PiDP-1 supports multiple interfaces: GUI (for Pi 5), Web (headless for Pi Zero 2W), and Peripheral Apps (custom setups).
- Sense switches on the PiDP-1 hardware allow quick boot options for games, graphics demos, and software like Spacewar! and Expensive Typewriter.
- Paper tape handling is a central feature, with options to use USB sticks as virtual paper tapes for input and output.
- Programming the PDP-1 involves tools like ET (Expensive Typewriter), MACRO assembler, and DDT debugger, with resources available for learning assembly and Lisp.
- An AI programming assistant is being developed to help with PDP-1 programming, including example code and educational resources.