New Open Source Hardware design is verified: ESP32-SBC-FabGL single board computer based on FabGL library with PS2 keyboard, mouse and VGA display with many retro computer emulators

I learned about the FabGL library when we started manufacturing AgonLight2. The ESP32 was used as a graphics, sound, and IO keyboard co-processor for Bernardo’s Z80 design.

Upon checking the library, I discovered that the author, Fabrizio Di Vittorio, had already created several emulators for Altair8080, VIC20, and even old DOS PCs!

This is how the idea for ESP32-SBC-FabGL was born. I wanted to create a board that could be used as a graphics/sound/IO co-processor for other retro computers based on different processors.

Here is the ESP32-SBC-FabGL layout 105 x 65 mm board:

ESP32-SBC-FabGL uses ESP32-WROVER with 4MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM.

As you may guess, this will be very convenient platform to create Retro Computers based on same principle as AgonLight2, so some Retro Computers based on this platform will follow, but do not ask when 😉

The Access bus will provide interface to retro processors hats for Graphics, Sound, Keyboard and Mouse.

The LCD hat will allow handheld Game consoles to be created easily.

The LiPo battery charger and connector provide stand alone operation without USB connection.

Today we build the first prototypes and they work as expected.

All FabGL demos works!

Altair8080 with CP/M:

IBM-PC with DOS:

It was quite blast from the past to see Turbo Pascal 3.0 running

Boy it took me a while to remember how to quit the editor 🙂

ESP32-SBC-FabGL will be ready for sale in June.

We will put it on the web with pre-order state this week.

The price will be EUR 15.00.

In this price is included royalties for the Author of FabGL, so by buying this board you will support Fabrizio and his further developments.

Tsvetan

AgonLight Weekend Programming Challenge – ISSUE 2

What is WPC?

It’s a small coding challenge that you have to solve in two days during the weekend.

Who can participate?

Anyone can participate except Olimex employees. You can submit the solutions under your name or anonymously under an alias name.

What are the rules?

The code must run on AgonLight. There are no restriction how you will code your solution: Assembler, Forth, C, BBC Basic, Turbo Pascal for CP/M any tool is possible. If your tool need special installation you should provide brief note how to do it so we can verify your solution.
There is no restriction to re-use code found on internet and adopt it for AgonLight2 as far the code is working and doing the job!
The solutions should be sent to info at olimex dot com. You will receive notification email that the solution is received.

On Monday, we will push all solutions received to a special GitHub repository and announce the winner on Tuesday, who will receive a €50 voucher to use in the Olimex web shop. The jury will consist of Tsvetan Usunov and Bernardo Kastrup.

So z80 retro ninja coders here is the second challenge for you!

Make Flappy Bird game for AgonLight during this weekend!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flappy_Bird

According to the Author it took him one weekend to write it 😉

Good Luck!

UPDATE 08-05-2023

With only one single submission we have the ultimate winner LuzrBum:

https://github.com/OLIMEX/AgonLight-WPC/tree/main/ISSUE-2

AgonLight Open Source Hardware Retro Computer Running BBC Basic was captured in KiCad and updated by Olimex

AgonLight is a well-documented small computer based on the Z80 family and running BBC BASIC.

With a VGA output and a PS2 Keyboard this is a stand alone retro style computer.

The project is open source hardware and software.

AgonLight may be also seen as an embedded BASIC computer as it has plenty of GPIOs available to interact with other components and modules.

The AgonLight was designed by Bernardo Kastrup and the Quark firmware is developed by Dean Belfield.

The project has an active Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/agoncomputer/

We got a few inquiries from customers asking if Olimex is interested in making this project and we hesitated at first due to having the bad experience in the past with Maximite pseudo open source project.

After exchanging a few words with Bernardo via Twitter, we became confident that this is a true open source hardware project.

We checked the schematic and decided to do some small changes.

• We decided to re-capture the design in KiCad instead of EasyEDA
• The power of the original AgonLight is delivered by a USB-A connector which is quite odd and USB-A to USB-A cables are less popular. We decided to replace it with USB-C connector which is used in all new phones, tablets and devices due to the new EU directive. Usually everyone has such a cable at home to charge and transfer files to their cell phone.
• We replaced the Linear voltage regulator with DCDC which delivers up to 2A current.
• We added a battery LiPo charger and step-up converter which allows operations even if external power supply is interrupted.
• The original design had a PS2 connector for a keyboard and required a USB to PS2 adapter to operate with the more available USB keyboards. We replaced the PS2 connector with a USB-A connector so a normal USB keyboard (which supports PS2) can be directly plugged-in to AgonLight
• We routed the AS7C34096A-10TCTR SRAM with 40 ohm impedance lines as per the datasheet
• Fixed a wrong signal naming in the ESP32-PICO-D4, which now is updated in the original AgonLight documentation.
• Replaced the bare header 32-pin connector with a plastic boxed 34-pin connector following the same layout and adding two additional signals Vbat and Vin which allow AgonLight to be powered by this connector too.
• Added a UEXT connector (https://www.olimex.com/Products/Modules/) which allows AgonLight to be connected to: temperature sensors, environmental air quality sensors, pressure, humidity, gyroscope, light, RS485, LCDs, LED matrix, relays, Bluettooth, Zigbee, Lora, GSM, RFID reader, GPS, Pulse, EKG, RTC etc.

We changed most of the components to our component base, which we source and stock in large quantities and allow us to bring the cost down.

The design was completed 1 week ago:

Today the first blank PCBs arrived:

Next week we will assemble 5 pcs to test by ourselves and then send to the original AgonLight developers.

AgonLight will be put on our web and available for pre-order next week with a special Christmas price of EUR 50 for a completely assembled, programmed and tested computer.

If the prottotypes are good mass production will follow and all pre-orders taken to 23.12.2022 will be shipped by the end of January.

We plan to make metal case and other accessories in the near future.