Moo Machine: Experience the First Microcomputer Interface.

8/3/2010:  The full code for the Moo Machine is uploaded.  More testing is needed, but version 0.9 will run the Fibonacci example program successfully.

Description:  Toggle switches and LEDs were the interface for the first personal microcomputer, the Altair 8800.  That experience is brought back in the Moo Machine.  The original Altair interface is followed as closely as possible, with updates for some modern conveniences.  Instead of the original 8080 instruction set, the machine will interpret the simplified instructions of the Cow Programming Language.  Several example programs will be available for demonstration purposes, or programs can be entered by hand for the full experience.

Goals:

• Simulate the interface and programming technique of early computers.
• Use a language in which the interpreter and system can be easily comprehended, for educational purposes.
• Keep the supporting electronics simple.
  

Detailed Presentation

• Demonstration
• Physical Overview: Full Scale Machine
• Physical Overview: Mini Machine
  
• Example Programs
  

Technical Overview

• Technical Overview
  
• Electronic Block Diagram
• Schematic
• Program

Background Information

• More information on the Altair can be found at http://www.vintage-computer.com/altair8800.shtml
• More information on the Cow Programming Language can be found at http://www.bigzaphod.org/cow/ (Internet Archive)