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A project log for 2:5 Scale KENBAK-1 Personal Computer Reproduction

Make a working reproduction of the venerable KENBAK-1 with a fully integrated development environment including an Assembler and Debugger.

michael-gardiMichael Gardi 04/28/2021 at 19:130 Comments

I did some additional testing of the IDE and added a Help button to popup some information on the assembly syntax.

I made a video where I try to demonstrate how the KENBAK-2/5, with it's built in Raspberry Pi, does a good job as a KENBAK-1 reproduction. As with the original you can enter and run programs, and view internal machine memory, just using the switches, buttons, and lamps on the front panel of the console.

But in addition, using the power of the Raspberry Pi 4 to implement an Integrated Development Environment, you can key in programs using native KENBAK-1 assembly language.  With breakpoints, single step modes, and memory visualizations, debugging suddenly become a lot easier.  

When I first looked at the KENBAK-1 Programming Reference Manual I was very impressed with the instruction set for a machine with no microprocessor, just discrete logic chips. Implementing an Assembler and Emulator only served to deepen my appreciation for what  John Blankenbaker created.

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