diff --git a/content/Protovac Retro Terminal.md b/content/Protovac Retro Terminal.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..202b0cd --- /dev/null +++ b/content/Protovac Retro Terminal.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +Title: Protovac Retro Terminal +Date: 2025-06-14 +Category: Creations +Summary: A retro dumb terminal interface at my local makerspace. +Image: protovac1.jpg +Tags: feed + +Protovac is a retro dumb terminal interface that lives at my local makerspace, [[Protospace]]. Its main use is printing storage labels and name tags for members and guests when they visit. + +An 85-year-old member donated the 1983 Morrow MDT-60 video display terminal that he bought new from London Drugs and kept in his closet. Originally this terminal is supposed to connect to a mainframe computer (perhaps in a different room) and display text over a serial connection. + +In this case it connects to a Raspberry Pi computer mounted to the back over 9600 baud serial UART. The Pi has been configured to output a terminal over its UART pins and auto login the protovac user with `agetty`. The protovac user's shell has been replaced with the Python script that runs the curses-based TUI. + +You can find the source code and set up instructions here: https://github.com/Protospace/protovac + +In addition to printing labels for members, Protovac: +- can control the train in the Protospace welcome room +- displays stats about Protospace (next meeting, next class, member counts, etc) +- can send a message to our marquee LED sign +- has a chat interface to message ChatGPT +- has an interface to access Wolfram Alpha +- can play the games NetHack, Moria, 2048, Zork, and Hitchhiker's