About This Project 3

This hobby project aims at designing and constructing a fully functional 16-bit computer and running usable software on it.

The computer’s name is BYTEC/16 and it was designed and built by me from scratch, using mostly low-level logic components (TTL). It does not use any commercial off-the-shelf CPU like 6502 or 680×0 but an original CPU design. Here are few technical details:

The computer does not have a graphics adapter nor a keyboard and I connect to it from a PC using a serial connection.

Currently work is in progress primarily on software:

  • BYTEC is running a custom Monitor/OS program able to do basic diagnostics, provide a simple shell and loading and executing programs over serial port
  • advanced programmer toolchain exists (hosted on a PC for cross development) including an assembler, linker and ANSI C compiler (a port of LCC)

Next step is to port and run a “real” operating system on BYTEC/16, like Contiki or Minix. The ultimate goal is to connect the machine to the Internet and let it serve a website about itself.

This website is used as a project diary (blog) and a repository of all project related documents, schematics and specs.

Current status

The construction of BYTEC/16 has been mostly completed, save for any bugs I may still find. The CPU was built on seven 100mm by 160mm boards stacked and connected with standard Arduino-type shield connectors. It is enclosed in an 19-inch rack enclosure and now sits in my desk exposing its peripheral interfaces on the front. The peripherals include a memory card, IDE interface card and serial ports card.

bytec_case

For a long time BYTEC’s only built unit was a wire wrapped prototype which I used to validate my designs. It did not have any enclosure and occupied most of my desk whenever I wanted to power it up and do some project work. You can see it below with early versions of peripherals – an RS-232 card (still wire wrapped), and and IDE interface with an old hard drive connected to it. Everything was hooked up to an old ATX power supply and an old laptop. This looks like an unmanageable tangle of wires but I was somehow able to find my way.

This is a screenshot of a terminal emulator on a PC connecting to BYTEC/16’s Monitor/OS program over a serial connection.

The developer

My name is Dawid. I am Polish, but I live in Bonn, Germany. If you wish to contact me, use the email address below.

3 thoughts on “About This Project

  1. Reply Armando Acosta Jun 16,2016 5:07 pm

    Hi, Dawid, I’m very glad to see your project is still alive and vibrant. Amazing work!

    My project (LC-81) was abandoned for some years until now that I found new inspiration to continue it. I moved the web site to another server and updated the content a little bit. Not as great as yours but just in case you are nterested, here is the new location:

    http://www.develante.net/lc81

    Keep the good work! BYTEC/16 is an inspiration to me as well as rich resource for ideas and information.

    Thank you.

  2. Reply bill rowe Mar 26,2017 1:35 pm

    Dawid: Nice work. I’ve developed my own compiler with LCC and you’re work is inspiring me to make some improvements. Have you posted any generated code? I’d be curious to see it. This web site is very clean and clear, is it wordpress?

  3. Reply dawid May 3,2017 12:42 am

    Hi Bill. Thank you! I haven’t done much on the project lately but I have a few new ideas and hopefully will be able to find inspiration soon. I am also planning to post all my code to GitHub so you will be able to have a look at my LCC port. Yes, the site runs on WordPress :)

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