L Break Into Program
@breakintoprogram.co.uk
Blog: http://www.breakintoprogram.co.uk
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BreakIntoProgram
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/breakintoprogram
Software developer & electronics dabbler. Restoring & programming vintage computers from Acorn Atom to ZX81.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BreakIntoProgram
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/breakintoprogram
Software developer & electronics dabbler. Restoring & programming vintage computers from Acorn Atom to ZX81.
I knew him before he became famous.
January 13, 2026 at 8:46 PM
I knew him before he became famous.
Day 2 of ${newJob}, which will be henceforth called ${dayJob}. The commute is not too bad, my colleagues are lovely, and the facilities are fab. Though I discovered this morning that Piccadilly Station will be closed for trains from South Manchester during February half-term. Sigh.
January 13, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Day 2 of ${newJob}, which will be henceforth called ${dayJob}. The commute is not too bad, my colleagues are lovely, and the facilities are fab. Though I discovered this morning that Piccadilly Station will be closed for trains from South Manchester during February half-term. Sigh.
Today I’m mostly listening to Remote by Hue and Cry.
January 13, 2026 at 8:03 AM
Today I’m mostly listening to Remote by Hue and Cry.
Okay folks, you know the drill: Cat, Coffee, Chores, Crossword and... Commodore 64.
January 11, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Okay folks, you know the drill: Cat, Coffee, Chores, Crossword and... Commodore 64.
Nice lunch meet with a couple of old buddies from Software Creations today. Three grey beards talking tech and reminiscing about the good old days. Bliss.
January 10, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Nice lunch meet with a couple of old buddies from Software Creations today. Three grey beards talking tech and reminiscing about the good old days. Bliss.
Finally got around to testing this. It works perfectly with my MacBook and OBS. It came with a Behringer XM8500 microphone, a good budget microphone. Had to turn the gain up fairly high, yet noise was not an issue. Just need to get an adjustable 90 degree male to female right-angled XLR adaptor.
New (old) toy to play with. A Berhinger UMC202HD. Got a microphone and stand with it too. Two XLR/TRS Combo Connectors (Mic/Line/Instrument). Tidy.
January 9, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Finally got around to testing this. It works perfectly with my MacBook and OBS. It came with a Behringer XM8500 microphone, a good budget microphone. Had to turn the gain up fairly high, yet noise was not an issue. Just need to get an adjustable 90 degree male to female right-angled XLR adaptor.
Today I've been mostly listening to Scritti Politti
January 9, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Today I've been mostly listening to Scritti Politti
Bonus Cheadle Geekery today. May be the last chance for a while I get to drink three pints on a weekday lunch hour with ${newJob} impending. Nice to catch up with Andy Mate, Mark and Jeff.
January 9, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Bonus Cheadle Geekery today. May be the last chance for a while I get to drink three pints on a weekday lunch hour with ${newJob} impending. Nice to catch up with Andy Mate, Mark and Jeff.
Nice surprise from @bugbear6502.bsky.social arrived today. Much easier to copy music onto and navigate. Will make the commute more bearable. Thanks!!
January 9, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Nice surprise from @bugbear6502.bsky.social arrived today. Much easier to copy music onto and navigate. Will make the commute more bearable. Thanks!!
This is one of those brilliant ideas I wish I'd had - what if you crossed Nebulus with Chuckie Egg. Perfectly executed by @snuggsy187.bsky.social who has worked wonders developing this for the Acorn Electron (the lower powered sibling of the BBC Micro). It's a long thread, yet well worth the read.
Acorn Electron / BBC Micro - Chuckulus - WIP
Maybe I'll try a thread instead of quote posting stuff !.....
Fixed the flashing egg and bouncing off ladders bugs - thankfully quite simple stuff....
Time for some proper level design, as some are just too damn hard/impossible (even without the DUCK !) 🙄
Maybe I'll try a thread instead of quote posting stuff !.....
Fixed the flashing egg and bouncing off ladders bugs - thankfully quite simple stuff....
Time for some proper level design, as some are just too damn hard/impossible (even without the DUCK !) 🙄
January 8, 2026 at 3:55 PM
This is one of those brilliant ideas I wish I'd had - what if you crossed Nebulus with Chuckie Egg. Perfectly executed by @snuggsy187.bsky.social who has worked wonders developing this for the Acorn Electron (the lower powered sibling of the BBC Micro). It's a long thread, yet well worth the read.
Been binge watching this, such a good show, nice short snappy episodes. But oh boy, I was not prepared for that ending.
Just started watching “The Good Place”. Oh man, this is brilliant.
January 8, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Been binge watching this, such a good show, nice short snappy episodes. But oh boy, I was not prepared for that ending.
New (old) toy to play with. A Berhinger UMC202HD. Got a microphone and stand with it too. Two XLR/TRS Combo Connectors (Mic/Line/Instrument). Tidy.
January 7, 2026 at 10:20 PM
New (old) toy to play with. A Berhinger UMC202HD. Got a microphone and stand with it too. Two XLR/TRS Combo Connectors (Mic/Line/Instrument). Tidy.
Reposted by L Break Into Program
Good news UK folks!
I have applied for UK VAT registration and can now sell to the UK.
So that means my new LS-2 joystick is now available for shipping to your country.
Help spread the word.
retrofrog.net/collections/...
I have applied for UK VAT registration and can now sell to the UK.
So that means my new LS-2 joystick is now available for shipping to your country.
Help spread the word.
retrofrog.net/collections/...
January 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Good news UK folks!
I have applied for UK VAT registration and can now sell to the UK.
So that means my new LS-2 joystick is now available for shipping to your country.
Help spread the word.
retrofrog.net/collections/...
I have applied for UK VAT registration and can now sell to the UK.
So that means my new LS-2 joystick is now available for shipping to your country.
Help spread the word.
retrofrog.net/collections/...
This keyboard is actually an entire computer. Just plug it into a monitor and you’re set.
January 7, 2026 at 3:07 PM
This keyboard is actually an entire computer. Just plug it into a monitor and you’re set.
Sage advice.
Reminder to remove batteries from vintage computers. This was (hopefully will be again) a Laser 128 EX/2. Trust me, your tools will thank you.
January 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Sage advice.
Today I’ll be mostly listening to 80s music.
January 7, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Today I’ll be mostly listening to 80s music.
Jury rigged some test wires for DIN plugs. Salvaged from the Molex pins of a PC floppy drive power connector.
January 7, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Jury rigged some test wires for DIN plugs. Salvaged from the Molex pins of a PC floppy drive power connector.
I like watching CuriousMarc's videos - they're entertaining, educational and motivating. Plus he's fixed some gorgeous test equipment, like these HP scopes.
HP 182C (and 180C/D) Oscilloscope Repair - Part 6: HP 1805A and 1825A 100 MHz Plugins
YouTube video by CuriousMarc
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 3:13 PM
I like watching CuriousMarc's videos - they're entertaining, educational and motivating. Plus he's fixed some gorgeous test equipment, like these HP scopes.
My grandfather was a fine artist, coach painter and sign writer. He made me this when I started my first job. If I get my own desk at ${newJob} then this is definitely coming into work with me. It’s one of the few times I have to remember him by.
January 6, 2026 at 11:13 AM
My grandfather was a fine artist, coach painter and sign writer. He made me this when I started my first job. If I get my own desk at ${newJob} then this is definitely coming into work with me. It’s one of the few times I have to remember him by.
I'd forgotten I had this iPod Shuffle (4th Gen). Bought this years ago for my daughter to use when she was on school trips. Then I started using it for running. It's probably 10 years old or so. I've just plugged it in to see if it still holds a charge.
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I'd forgotten I had this iPod Shuffle (4th Gen). Bought this years ago for my daughter to use when she was on school trips. Then I started using it for running. It's probably 10 years old or so. I've just plugged it in to see if it still holds a charge.
This makes so much sense to me.
2026 beginning of the year cleaning up files on my PC and found this one a friend send me when working on some code.
Every developer can relate.
#solodev #indiedev #development
Every developer can relate.
#solodev #indiedev #development
January 5, 2026 at 8:59 PM
This makes so much sense to me.
Today I have been mostly listening to Aqualung by Jethro Tull.
January 5, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Today I have been mostly listening to Aqualung by Jethro Tull.
Reposted by L Break Into Program
New blog post - a round up of the current range of modules and backplanes for the Minstrel Expansion Bus:
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/01/mins...
Also a look at some of the things you can use them for on the Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3, ZX81 or TS1000.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/01/mins...
Also a look at some of the things you can use them for on the Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3, ZX81 or TS1000.
January 4, 2026 at 12:14 PM
New blog post - a round up of the current range of modules and backplanes for the Minstrel Expansion Bus:
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/01/mins...
Also a look at some of the things you can use them for on the Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3, ZX81 or TS1000.
blog.tynemouthsoftware.co.uk/2026/01/mins...
Also a look at some of the things you can use them for on the Minstrel 2, Minstrel 3, ZX81 or TS1000.
The Aiwa Walkman / Sony WH-CH720N combo worked a treat. Listened to Minstrel in the Gallery by Jethro Tull on the walk to Repair Cafe this morning. Got Aqualung lined up next. Random access of tracks is great, but...
January 3, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The Aiwa Walkman / Sony WH-CH720N combo worked a treat. Listened to Minstrel in the Gallery by Jethro Tull on the walk to Repair Cafe this morning. Got Aqualung lined up next. Random access of tracks is great, but...