Retrocomputing is the current use ofolder computer hardware andsoftware. Retrocomputing is usually classed as ahobby and recreation rather than a practical application of technology; enthusiasts often collect rare and valuablehardware andsoftware for sentimental reasons.[1]
Occasionally, however, an obsolete computer system has to be "resurrected" to run software specific to that system, to access data stored onobsolete media, or to use aperipheral that requires that system.
Retrocomputing andretro gaming has been described aspreservation activity and as aspects of theremix culture.[2]
Retrocomputing is part of thehistory of computer hardware. It can be seen as the analogue ofexperimental archaeology in computing.[3] Some notable examples include the reconstruction ofBabbage'sDifference engine (more than a century after its design) and the implementation ofPlankalkül in 2000 (more than half a century since its inception).
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Some retrocomputing enthusiasts also consider the "homebrewing" (designing andbuilding of retro- and retro-styled computers or kits), to be an important aspect of the hobby, giving new enthusiasts an opportunity to experience more fully what the early years of hobby computing were like.[1] There are several different approaches to this end. Some are exact replicas of older systems, and some are newer designs based on the principles of retrocomputing, while others combine the two, with old and new features in the same package. Examples include:
As old computer hardware becomes harder to maintain, there has been increasing interest in computer simulation. This is especially the case with oldmainframe computers, which have largely been scrapped, and have space, power, and environmental requirements unaffordable by the average user. The memory size and speed of current systems enable simulation of many old systems to run faster than that system on original hardware.[14][15]
One popular simulator, the history simulatorSIMH, offers simulations for over 50 historic systems, from the 1950s through the present. TheHercules emulator simulates the IBM System/360 family fromSystem/360 to 64-bitSystem/z. A simulator is available for theHoneywellMultics system. An online simulator is available for theAltair 8800 and it runs the actualAltair BASIC
Software for most older systems was notcopyrighted, and therefore fall intopublic domain so there is a wide variety of available software to run on these simulators. In a few cases, software for older systems was released intoopen source by the copyright holders, such asGroupe Bull (the copyright holder of Multics) which released the source code for MR12.5, the final official 1992 Multics release, toMIT in 2006.[16] The release of Multics source code enabled enthusiasts to fix bugs or make improvements, with later open source releases of Multics were released as late as 2023.[17]
Some emulations are used by businesses, as running production software in a simulator is usually faster, cheaper, and more reliable than running it on original hardware.[citation needed]
In an interview withConan O'Brien in May 2014,George R. R. Martin revealed that he writes his books usingWordStar 4.0, anMS-DOS application dating back to 1987.[18]
US-based streaming video providerNetflix released a multiple-choice movie branded to be part of theirBlack Mirror series, calledBandersnatch. The protagonist is a teenage programmer working on a contract to deliver a video-game adaptation of a fantasy novel for an 8-bit computer in 1984. The multiple storylines revolve around the emotions andmental health issues resulting from a reality-perception mismatch between a new generation of computer-savvy teenagers and twenty-somethings, and their care givers.
Due to their low complexity together with other technical advantages,8-bit computers are frequently re-discovered for education, especially for introductory programming classes inelementary schools.[citation needed] 8-bit computers turn on and directly present a programming environment; there are no distractions, and no need for other features or additional connectivity. TheBASIC language is a simple-to-learn programming language that has access to the entire system without having to loadlibraries for sound, graphics, math, etc. The focus of the programming language is on efficiency; in particular, one command does one thing immediately (e.g.COLOR0,6 turns the screen green).
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