Spectrum Projects

tnfs.markround.com

tnfs A community BBS-like site that runs natively on the 8-bit Sinclair Spectrum computer. Offers 16,000+ games, and tons of other features like messages, comments and articles. Featured in The Spectrum Show #107 on YouTube, and now available emulated in an a web browser at jsspeccy.markround.com.

It’s a sort of “website” for the old ZX Spectrum computer that many of us in the UK grew up with in the 80s. I got my first spectrum when I was around 6-7 years old, complete with cassette recorder and a bunch of old tapes. From then on, I was hooked. I realised even at that age that I loved computers and really wanted to work with them when I grew up. Well, many decades have passed and whilst I still don’t consider myself a “grown up”, I am very lucky to still work in the industry, doing what I love. Only these days it’s more Kubernetes and spinning infrastructure up through CI/CD than it is loading games from cassette tape.

With so much complexity in modern systems, sometimes it’s a lot of fun to go back to simpler times. I’ve written before about how much “soul” these old computers have. My Spectrum and Amiga got me through some rough times and have given me so much enjoyment through the years. I credit those communities with feeding my curiosity and developing my interest in programming, so I thought it would be nice to give something back. It’s been a lot of fun remembering all the Sinclair BASIC hacks and tricks I used 30-odd years ago and an absolute delight to see those first users and messages popping up.