Building a Retro-Styled Homebrew Computer & Operating System from micro-controllers

wrongdog reckons December 10, 2023
Video Thumbnail
wrongdog reckons Logo

wrongdog reckons

@wrongdog_reckons

About

Reflecting on technology and what it means in our lives.

Video Description

I built a homebrew computer using micro-controllers in a custom hardware architecture and operating system. It's been a non-linear journey that started with curiosity about how operating systems worked and took me down several Rabbit holes to end up with a piece that I'm pretty proud of. Most of all, it reminded me of how much I have left to learn :) This video covers the history of what led to this computer and the actual build. To build the system, I used a variety of microcontrollers from Adafruit, Raspberry Pico, and Sparkfun - primarily based on the RP2040. My background is in software, and I have no real experience with hardware design and development (never effectively soldered before), so I am sure many improvements are possible. Still, as a growth experience, this was amazing. I am hopeful to get feedback. Software development is ongoing and has been done in C/C++ and Python - I'll post a link to the repo in the comments. Some background video segments are from Pixabay - special thanks there.

Revive Your Retro Tech Dreams

AI-recommended products based on this video

Loading...
Lemorele 10 in 1 USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor, Laptop Dock USB C Hub Multiport Adapter Triple Monitor W/2 HDMI 4K, VGA, 3 USB 3.0/2.0, PD, SD/TF, 3.5MM Audio for Lenovo, Surface, MacBook

Lemorele 10 in 1 USB C Docking Station Dual Monitor, Laptop Dock USB C Hub Multiport Adapter Triple Monitor W/2 HDMI 4K, VGA, 3 USB 3.0/2.0, PD, SD/TF, 3.5MM Audio for Lenovo, Surface, MacBook

(9,588)
$36.99
FREE delivery Tue, Jun 17
500+ bought in past month
Loading...
Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch™ 2

Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch™ 2

(2,199)
$59.96$55.37
FREE delivery Thu, Mar 19
3K+ bought in past month
Loading...
NIDOO 15.6 inch Laptop Sleeve Case Computer Bag for 15.6" Lenovo Legion 5 / IdeaPad Gaming 3i / ThinkPad L15 T15 E15 / 16" Legion 7i 9i / Legion 5 Pro/ThinkPad E16 16p /Yoga 7i / Galaxy Book3 HP Dell

NIDOO 15.6 inch Laptop Sleeve Case Computer Bag for 15.6" Lenovo Legion 5 / IdeaPad Gaming 3i / ThinkPad L15 T15 E15 / 16" Legion 7i 9i / Legion 5 Pro/ThinkPad E16 16p /Yoga 7i / Galaxy Book3 HP Dell

(85)
$29.99$27.25
FREE delivery Mon, Jun 23 on your first order
Loading...
tomtoc 360° Protective Laptop Sleeve for 15-inch MacBook Air M4/A3241 2025, M3/A3114 2024, M2/A2941 2023, 15-inch MacBook Pro A1990 A1707, Dell XPS 15 Plus Laptop, Water-Resistant Computer Case Bag Global Recycled Standard

tomtoc 360° Protective Laptop Sleeve for 15-inch MacBook Air M4/A3241 2025, M3/A3114 2024, M2/A2941 2023, 15-inch MacBook Pro A1990 A1707, Dell XPS 15 Plus Laptop, Water-Resistant Computer Case Bag Global Recycled Standard

(12,968)
$39.55
FREE delivery Tue, Jun 17
Loading...
tomtoc 360° Protective Laptop Sleeve for 13-inch New MacBook Air M4/A3240 2025, M3/A3113, M2/A2681 M1/A2337 A2179 A1932, 13-inch MacBook Pro M2/A2686 M1/A2338, Water-Resistant Computer Case Bag Global Recycled Standard

tomtoc 360° Protective Laptop Sleeve for 13-inch New MacBook Air M4/A3240 2025, M3/A3113, M2/A2681 M1/A2337 A2179 A1932, 13-inch MacBook Pro M2/A2686 M1/A2338, Water-Resistant Computer Case Bag Global Recycled Standard

(12,952)
$36.07
PrimeFREE delivery Sat, Jun 14
100+ bought in past month
Loading...
Mini PC Computer Protective Case for KAMRUI GK3Plus/AK1 Plus/Essenx E1 & GMKtec G5/G9/M5 Plus, ACEMAGIC Vista V1 N97 & Beelink Mini S12 S13 Pro/SER5/SER7 & BOSGAME B95 Mini PC Hard Travel Bag

Mini PC Computer Protective Case for KAMRUI GK3Plus/AK1 Plus/Essenx E1 & GMKtec G5/G9/M5 Plus, ACEMAGIC Vista V1 N97 & Beelink Mini S12 S13 Pro/SER5/SER7 & BOSGAME B95 Mini PC Hard Travel Bag

(2)
$195.03
FREE delivery Jun 18 - 27
Loading...
Denn-Tek Advanced Tooth Repair Kit- 13+ repairs

Denn-Tek Advanced Tooth Repair Kit- 13+ repairs

(9)
$24.99
FREE delivery Sat, Apr 11 on your first order
200+ bought in past month
Loading...
Cat Calming Pheromone Diffuser Kit, 2 Plug-Ins + 4 Refills (48ml Each), Long-Lasting Stress & Anxiety Relief, Reduces Fighting, Spraying & Scratching, Safe & Drug-Free Comfort for All Cats and Kittens

Cat Calming Pheromone Diffuser Kit, 2 Plug-Ins + 4 Refills (48ml Each), Long-Lasting Stress & Anxiety Relief, Reduces Fighting, Spraying & Scratching, Safe & Drug-Free Comfort for All Cats and Kittens

(37)
$39.99
FREE delivery Sat, Apr 4
Loading...
Windshield Repair kit, Quick and Efficiency Glass Repair Fluid, Car Windshield Crack Repair Resin Kit for Fixing Chips, Bulls-Eye, Cracks and Star-Shape Cack-2 Pack

Windshield Repair kit, Quick and Efficiency Glass Repair Fluid, Car Windshield Crack Repair Resin Kit for Fixing Chips, Bulls-Eye, Cracks and Star-Shape Cack-2 Pack

(34)
$13.99
FREE delivery Thu, Mar 26 on your first order
100+ bought in past month
Loading...
Windshield Repair kit, DIY Glass Cracked Repair Kits, Easy to Use Automotive Glass Nano Repair Fluid, Scratch Chip Cracks Repair Kit (2 Pack) (Black)

Windshield Repair kit, DIY Glass Cracked Repair Kits, Easy to Use Automotive Glass Nano Repair Fluid, Scratch Chip Cracks Repair Kit (2 Pack) (Black)

(32)
$8.99
FREE delivery Wed, Mar 25 on your first order
Loading...
UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter & USB C to USB Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps Type-C Converter, Car Charger Compatible with MacBook Pro, iPad Mac mini, iPhone 17/16, Galaxy, PC/Laptop, Hard Drive Enclosure

UGREEN USB to USB C Adapter & USB C to USB Adapter Combo 4-Pack, 10Gbps Type-C Converter, Car Charger Compatible with MacBook Pro, iPad Mac mini, iPhone 17/16, Galaxy, PC/Laptop, Hard Drive Enclosure

(86)
$9.74
Prime
Loading...
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter 4 Pack,USBC Female to A Male Car Charger,Type C Converter for iPhone 16 Pro Max,15 14 13 12 11 Plus,Apple Watch iWatch 10 9 8,Airpods,iPad Air Mini 6 7,Samsung Galaxy S25

Elebase USB to USB C Adapter 4 Pack,USBC Female to A Male Car Charger,Type C Converter for iPhone 16 Pro Max,15 14 13 12 11 Plus,Apple Watch iWatch 10 9 8,Airpods,iPad Air Mini 6 7,Samsung Galaxy S25

(54,858)
$12.99
FREE delivery Sat, Jun 14 on your first order
1K+ bought in past month
Loading...
USB C Cable 3Pack USB C to USB C Cable 10FT 60W Type C Charger Nylon Braided Compatible with iPhone 17 16 Pro/15 Pro/Plus/Max/iPad/MacBook and More

USB C Cable 3Pack USB C to USB C Cable 10FT 60W Type C Charger Nylon Braided Compatible with iPhone 17 16 Pro/15 Pro/Plus/Max/iPad/MacBook and More

(16)
$13.99
Prime
800+ bought in past month
Loading...
Syntech Link Cable 16FT for PCVR Compatible with Oculus/Quest 3/Meta Quest 3S, Quest2/Pro/Pico 4/Ultra Accessories and PC/SteamVR, High Speed PC Data Transfer, USB 3.0 to USB C Cable for VR Headset
Best Seller

Syntech Link Cable 16FT for PCVR Compatible with Oculus/Quest 3/Meta Quest 3S, Quest2/Pro/Pico 4/Ultra Accessories and PC/SteamVR, High Speed PC Data Transfer, USB 3.0 to USB C Cable for VR Headset

(19,554)
$24.99
FREE delivery Tue, Jun 17 on your first order
300+ bought in past month
Loading...
MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED 32-inch 3840 x 2160 (UHD) Computer Monitor, 240Hz, Adaptive-Synch, HDMI, DP Port, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 0.03ms, White

MSI MPG 321URXW QD-OLED 32-inch 3840 x 2160 (UHD) Computer Monitor, 240Hz, Adaptive-Synch, HDMI, DP Port, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 0.03ms, White

(88)
$1,149.99$989.92
FREE delivery Sat, Jan 3
Loading...
MSI PRO MP273QW E2 AMZ 27-inch IPS 2560 x 1440 (QHD) Computer Monitor, 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 1ms, White

MSI PRO MP273QW E2 AMZ 27-inch IPS 2560 x 1440 (QHD) Computer Monitor, 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 1ms, White

(47)
$169.99
FREE delivery Jan 13 - Feb 6
50+ bought in past month
Loading...
Dell P2725H 27" Full HD 1920 x 1080 Monitor - 1 Year Warranty, Computer Monitor Screen Bundle with Power Cable + USB 3.0 Upstream Cable + Display Port Cable + HDMI Cable + Microfiber Cloth Included

Dell P2725H 27" Full HD 1920 x 1080 Monitor - 1 Year Warranty, Computer Monitor Screen Bundle with Power Cable + USB 3.0 Upstream Cable + Display Port Cable + HDMI Cable + Microfiber Cloth Included

(35)
$539.87$539.34
FREE delivery Oct 8 - 10
Loading...
Dell P2425H Computer Monitor Screen 24" 16:9 IPS Display 100Hz w/Stand - 1 Year Warranty, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 with Power Cord + DisplayPort Cable + HDMI Cable + USB 3.0 Cable + Microfiber Cloth

Dell P2425H Computer Monitor Screen 24" 16:9 IPS Display 100Hz w/Stand - 1 Year Warranty, Full HD, 1920 x 1080 with Power Cord + DisplayPort Cable + HDMI Cable + USB 3.0 Cable + Microfiber Cloth

(57)
$981.72
Loading...
UPERFECT Portable Monitor, 2023 [New Version] 15.6" IPS HDR 1920X1080 FHD Eye Care Screen USB C Gaming Monitor, Dual Speaker Computer Display HDMI Type-C VESA for Laptop PC Phone w/Smart Case

UPERFECT Portable Monitor, 2023 [New Version] 15.6" IPS HDR 1920X1080 FHD Eye Care Screen USB C Gaming Monitor, Dual Speaker Computer Display HDMI Type-C VESA for Laptop PC Phone w/Smart Case

(7,311)
$167.92$146.33
$11.94 delivery Sat, Aug 9
Loading...
HotYeah Portable Monitor, 16.1in 1080P FHD Laptop Monitor USB-C HDMI External Computer Display HDR IPS w/Smart Cover & Speaker, 2nd Screen for PC Mac Phone Switch PS5

HotYeah Portable Monitor, 16.1in 1080P FHD Laptop Monitor USB-C HDMI External Computer Display HDR IPS w/Smart Cover & Speaker, 2nd Screen for PC Mac Phone Switch PS5

(526)
$89.99
FREE delivery Mon, Aug 11
50+ bought in past month
Loading...
12.3 Inch Secondary Monitor, IPS Stretched Bar LCD Travel Display 1920 * 720 HDMI USBC, Mini Portable Monitor Metal Material for Laptop Computer Windows Aida64 GPU CPU RAM Monitoring,Built-in Speaker

12.3 Inch Secondary Monitor, IPS Stretched Bar LCD Travel Display 1920 * 720 HDMI USBC, Mini Portable Monitor Metal Material for Laptop Computer Windows Aida64 GPU CPU RAM Monitoring,Built-in Speaker

(1)
$129.99
FREE delivery Sun, Aug 10
Loading...
MSI PRO MP273QW E2 AMZ 27-inch IPS 2560 x 1440 (QHD) Computer Monitor, 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 1ms, White

MSI PRO MP273QW E2 AMZ 27-inch IPS 2560 x 1440 (QHD) Computer Monitor, 100Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDMI, VESA Mountable, Tilt, Speaker, 1ms, White

(47)
$169.99
FREE delivery Jan 13 - Feb 6
50+ bought in past month