Code like it’s the 1980s
Our computers are so powerful today that it’s hard for younger developers to understand what early desktop computing was like. Even more experienced folks can...
Draw in color using Portable Pix Maps
Create colorful images using the Portable Pix Map format.
Grayscale images with Portable Gray Maps
Learn to write grayscale images using the Portable Gray Map format.
Write tiny images using PBM
The Portable Bit Map (“PBM”) image file format was invented in the 1980s as a way to transmit small black and white images as plain...
Reading a whole file at once
Two methods to load a data file into memory. Use mmap on Linux sysetms.
Old-school programming with Turbo C
Explore retroprogramming on FreeDOS with this popular freeware IDE.
Calculate pi by counting pixels
This is a very simple way to measure pi, but it was a fun exercise and I wanted to share it.
Using AI to translate code
I was impressed that AI did so well translating from an old language like FORTRAN 77 into a more modern language like C.
Cautions when using AI for coding
While AI agents can help streamline development, keep in mind these cautions when using AI for coding.
Draw a Cylon eye in DOS
Have fun by writing a program to simulate a Cylon’s sweeping red eye
Using enumerations in C
Using enumerations with enum makes it easy to store values in a program, yet keep the code easy to read.
Using bit fields and bit masks in C
Using bit fields and bit masks is a common method to combine data without using more complex structures.
Enjoy the holidays with this ASCII fireplace
Enjoy the holidays by writing a ‘fire’ program in ASCII text.
What I learned by teaching others
Sharing knowledge with others is often a great way to refresh and update your own expertise.
5 ways to learn about programming
Read these popular articles from the last year to get started on your programming journey.