Difference between revisions of "Main Page"

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m (→‎Operating Systems)
(Major update covering the addition of the 68k based machines.)
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= C256 FOENIX WIKI =  
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= THE FOENIX WIKI =  
  
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Welcome to the C256 Foenix Project! The C256 Foenix is a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 16 and 32 bit machines of lore!  This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new!
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Welcome to the Foenix Project! Here you will find a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 16 and 32 bit machines of lore!  This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new! Models are available with a 65816 CPU, a 680x0 series CPU, or both, with more CPU options planned for the future.
  
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Compare the different [[models]],
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[[File:C256FoenixFMX_RevC4B.2.25.jpg|200px]]
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[[File:C256FoenixUBare.jpg|200px]]
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[[File:C256FoenixU_RevA0B.png|200px]]
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[[File:A2560K.png|200px]]
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[[File:A2560X Render.23.png|200px]]
  
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Explore the [[documentation]],
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''' All Foenix systems include the following base features:'''
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{| class="wikitable"
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| || '''Graphics'''            || '''Layers'''                || '''Sound'''                || '''Ports'''            ||
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|-
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| || 320x240x60fps            || 16x16 mouse pointer        || 2x Gideon FPGASID          || SD Card slot            ||
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|-
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| || 400x300x60fps            || 8x8 character plane        || 16-bit stereo CODEC        || 2x PS/2 (kbd/mouse)    || 
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|-
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| || 640x480x60fps            || 64 16x16x256 sprites        || TI SN76489 (Sega, Cabinets) || Stereo 1/8" headphone  ||               
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|-
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| || 800x600x60fps            || 4x 16x16x256 tile planes    || Yamaha OPL3 (Sound Blaster) || Stereo RCA Line In/Out  ||
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|-
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| || 24-bit RGB color space    || 2x 256-color bitmap planes  || 3KHz piezo beeper          || 2.5" internal IDE HDD  ||
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|}
  
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Join the [https://discord.gg/WqtwuEtN3a Discord],
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Additional features vary by class of unit:
  
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Order your computer at https://c256foenix.com, and
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{| class="wikitable"
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| || || '''65816''' || '''680x0''' || ||
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|-
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| || '''Basic''' || C256U || A2560U || Basic units with 3-wire serial and an expansion port. ||
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|-
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| || '''Luxury''' || C256FMX || A2560K || Expanded units with MIDI, floppy, 9-wire serial, 25-pin parallel, and more! ||
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|-
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| || '''Explorer''' || colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Gen-X || All of the above with support for two CPUs! ||
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|}
  
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Join in the fun!
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= Get Started =
  
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= Games =
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Compare the different [[models]]: [[C256U]], [[C256-FMX]], [[A2560U]], [[A2560K]], [[Gen-X]]
  
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Many developers are working on games for the Foenix; some projects in the works include:
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Explore the [[documentation]]: [[C256]], [[A2560]], [[ICs]]
  
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* A 2D Half-Life
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Join the [https://discord.gg/WqtwuEtN3a Discord],
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* A Bomberman clone
 
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* A classic graphical RPG
 
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* A classic variation on Hamurabi
 
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* Necromancer and Joust style games
 
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To get you started, Daniel Tremblay has published two open-source games:
 
  
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* https://github.com/dtremblay/fraggy
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Order your computer at https://c256foenix.com, and
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* https://github.com/dtremblay/c256-tetris
 
  
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Also, developers often post work-in-progress .hex files on the discord!
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Join in the fun!
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= Languages =
 
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* C: The [https://www.westerndesigncenter.com/wdc/tools.php WDC C compiler] is available for the 65816, and a modern compiler for the '816 has just been released. For the additional CPUs available on the Gen-X (68k, 486, RISC-V, etc) a variety of modern and "classic" compilers are available.  More on our [[C Compilers]] page.
 
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* FORTH: OF816 and RetroForth are both available for the '816. See our [[Using Forth]] page for details.
 
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* BASIC: all platforms include a brand new, clean-room BASIC for the 65816 [[Using Foenix BASIC816]].  Additionally, MMBASIC is being considered for the additional CPUs available to the Gen-X.
 
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* PASCAL: A Pascal compiler for all CPUs is being explored!  Stay tuned!
 
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* Smalltalk: A full-blown Smalltalk-like environment is in development for the 65816. You can follow the work on Discord.
 
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* Assembler: all platforms include at least a 65816 CPU, and folks are using a variety of assemblers, tho 64tass appears to be the most popular.
 
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* LISP/Scheme: Yep, you might soon be able to boot to LISP just as easily as booting to BASIC!
 
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= Operating Systems =
 
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For the more adventurous, several operating systems and desktop environments are in the works:
 
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* FX/OS -- A Clean-Room GUI for the Foenix, written in C and presently compiling for the 65816.
 
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* EmuTOS -- A port of the Atari-ST OS of the same name! (For the Gen-X/68k and A2560 lines)
 
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* TinyCore -- A distributed Smalltalk-like environment being ported to the 65816.
 
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= Music =
 
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The Foenix machines are an 8-bit musician's dream! All models include a TI SN76489, a Yamaha OPL3 (Sound Blaster), two Gideon FPGA SIDs, and a 16-bit CODEC.  The Gen-X and FMX models further include MIDI ports, a Yamaha OPM, and a Yamaha OPN. You can also add two additional SIDs to any model. Turn your Foenix into the ultimate chip-tune machine, use it as a sound-module containing every classic FM-synth you every wanted, or directly implement your own MIDI transformations without having to wade through 30 years of operating system baggage!
 
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Once again, Daniel Tremblay is here to get you started: https://github.com/dtremblay/c256-vgm-player
 
  
 
= FAQ =
 
= FAQ =
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Is this another FPGA Retro like the MiSTer?
 
Is this another FPGA Retro like the MiSTer?
  
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* No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65816, 68000, 68030, i486dx2, etc. :).
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* No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65816, 68000, 68040, i486dx2, etc. :).
  
 
Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?
 
Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?

Revision as of 16:44, 19 February 2022

THE FOENIX WIKI

Welcome to the Foenix Project! Here you will find a series of brand new computers lovingly made by Stefany Allaire in the style of the early 16 and 32 bit machines of lore! This is your chance to be a participant in the development of a new platform -- to start with a brand new machine akin to a high-end Atari or Amiga, write its very first programs, see what it can do, push its limits, and experience something new! Models are available with a 65816 CPU, a 680x0 series CPU, or both, with more CPU options planned for the future.

C256FoenixFMX RevC4B.2.25.jpg C256FoenixUBare.jpg C256FoenixU RevA0B.png A2560K.png A2560X Render.23.png

All Foenix systems include the following base features:

Graphics Layers Sound Ports
320x240x60fps 16x16 mouse pointer 2x Gideon FPGASID SD Card slot
400x300x60fps 8x8 character plane 16-bit stereo CODEC 2x PS/2 (kbd/mouse)
640x480x60fps 64 16x16x256 sprites TI SN76489 (Sega, Cabinets) Stereo 1/8" headphone
800x600x60fps 4x 16x16x256 tile planes Yamaha OPL3 (Sound Blaster) Stereo RCA Line In/Out
24-bit RGB color space 2x 256-color bitmap planes 3KHz piezo beeper 2.5" internal IDE HDD

Additional features vary by class of unit:

65816 680x0
Basic C256U A2560U Basic units with 3-wire serial and an expansion port.
Luxury C256FMX A2560K Expanded units with MIDI, floppy, 9-wire serial, 25-pin parallel, and more!
Explorer Gen-X All of the above with support for two CPUs!

Get Started

Compare the different models: C256U, C256-FMX, A2560U, A2560K, Gen-X

Explore the documentation: C256, A2560, ICs

Join the Discord,

Order your computer at https://c256foenix.com, and

Join in the fun!

FAQ

Is this another FPGA Retro like the MiSTer?

  • No! These machines are the real thing. You'll be running on a real 65816, 68000, 68040, i486dx2, etc. :).

Are these machines compatible with the C64? C128? Amiga? Atari-ST? IBM-PC?

  • No! This is not a MEGA65, a Vampire, or an Ultimate64. We already have those platforms. This is something new and different!

Is there an emulator?

Is the hardware "Open Source"?

  • The schematics are available for download from the Discord. The FPGA code is presently closed-source to keep the platform from becoming fragmented.

Are there any programming tutorials for the Foenix?

Happy hacking!

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