This project is made public under the terms of the strongly-reciprocal variant of the CERN Open Hardware Licence version 2. By using any part of this project you abide to this licence.
Two years ago I was searching for some ICs in my component drawers and came across a Z80 CPU and an Intel 8251 USART. I had an instant flashback and remembered my first contact with a microprocessor back in 1982. It was a Z80. After a few minutes of nostalgia I decided to make good use of these components and build a computer.
Of course I couldn't avoid thinking about this "new project" with my Systems Engineer mindset. So, I established a few initial goals:
- This project is a hobby, so it has to be fun.
- It should use mainly technologies available in the 1980's.
- The computer has to run commercial software.
- The architecture should be modular allowing for new cards with specific functions.
- It also has to be a hardware/software development platform for students, hobbyists and enthusiasts.
After some research I decided to design the hardware fully compatible with CP/M 2.2.
One and a half years later, I finally had my wire wrapped computer running CP/M. I could write programs using WordStar and compile them with BDS C compiler, Microsoft Basic compiler or SLR Z80 macro assembler. It was fun, exciting and challenging. After that, I decided it was time to turn the prototype into a finished product.
It's gratifying to see that in two years, alone, I was able to transform an idea into a commercial product.
The content of this repo is a small portion of the knowledge gathered during these two years developing the Proton Z80 Modular Computer. Most of the information and results are in my logbook - a notebook (paper, not a computer), where I write everything before executing. During this period, I was the system engineer, hardware engineer, software engineer and project manager. Why did it take me so long to complete this project? Because it's a weekend hobby and also because sometimes I had to wait many weeks to receive some components and PCBs.
Ricardo Kaltchuk
Ashdod - IL, october 2021.
Is it perfect? No. Is it state of the art? No. Does I meet the initial goal? Yes. Am I happy with it? For sure!
All directory names are self-explanatory and you'll find a readme file inside each one with some additional info.
Well, if you want to build your own Proton Z80 Modular Computer, you'll need to check at least these directories:
- CPM build,
- CPM software,
- KiCAD files,
- Monitor build,
- System manuals (Proton and Monitor) and
- pics.
- Order the PCBs. You can order from PCBway and JLC PCB with the codes in the Proton Manual.
- Buy the components according to the bill of materials in the Proton Manual.
- Assemble the cards.
- Download the software from Github.
- Burn the EEPROM and microcontrollers.
- Configure the jumpers on the cards according to instructions in the Proton Manual.
- Assemble the rack (optional) and insert the cards.
Ready to start! Now you can transfer all the CP/M software from your computer to the Proton.
In the Proton User's Manual there's a section called "Building Procedure" which describes in details all the steps listed above. I suggest you read ALL the manual before starting.