<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>Hacker News: orac81</title><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/user?id=orac81</link><description>Hacker News RSS</description><docs>https://hnrss.org/</docs><generator>hnrss v2.1.1</generator><lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2026 21:10:03 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://hnrss.org/user?id=orac81" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Jokes for the ZX81"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>How do you double the value of a zx81? Buy a dust cover for it!</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:37:40 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272612</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272612</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272612</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Flyover (1982. c64,vic20,c16,zx,PC. not AI)"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>FLYOVER is a simple yet compelling action/strategy open source game for the Commodore64, C16, Vic20, PET, Atari800, ZX Spectrum, MSDOS, SDL2. Based on my original 1982 version!<p>Download:
<a href="https://orac81.itch.io/flyover" rel="nofollow">https://orac81.itch.io/flyover</a><p>Controls (or use Joystick):
  SPACE/SHIFT/FIRE = Drop bomb.
  S = Toggle sound on/off.
  M = Toggle fast/slow.
  X = Quit game.<p>The object of the game is to eliminate the (Yellow) Special targets and progress to the next level. As your plane flys across the screen, you can drop bombs onto the numbers in the rocky cavern below. You loose a life if you miss the targets and hit the rocks, or if you dont drop a bomb during a pass.<p>The height/direction of the plane is random, you do not control that. The bombs descend at an angle, then travel vertically down through the numbers and targets. If the bomb hits a column sideways-on, then numbers above the hit point collapse down. The higher a bomb is dropped from, the deeper it penetrates. The plane colour indicates the height of the plane. You start with 5 lives, and get a bonus life every 2 levels.<p>The top line shows the score, the number of targets left, the level, and number of lives left. The maximum score possible is 65535.
Special targets score more on higher levels.
During play hit M to change speed, S to toggle sound, X (or ESC) to quit.<p>For C64, C16 & ZX, you can select Joystick #1 or #2.
For the ZX the first joystick is Sinclair i/f #1, the second the Kempstone joystick. 
The ZX sound uses the AY8912 chip in the Spectrum 128, running the program in 48K mode.<p>HINTS<p>As you play, you will find that single isolated targets are difficult to eliminate. It is much easier to remove them if numbers are left on top, so try to hit columns sideways (in the middle) to achieve this. Try to eliminate central targets first, and work outwards, leaving a crust of numbers on top of the targets. Since you do not control height/direction, its is important to keep a balance of targets on both sides of the cavern. This is a "one button" game, so careful choice of targets is a key strategy<p>my original Basic version of Flyover was published in Dec 1982 "Vic Computing" magazine, you will find that version as "bas/Flyover.tap", in the bas folder.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:49:42 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272097</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272097</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272097</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flyover (1982. c64,vic20,c16,zx,PC. not AI)]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/flyover">https://orac81.itch.io/flyover</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272096">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272096</a></p>
<p>Points: 1</p>
<p># Comments: 1</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:49:42 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/flyover</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272096</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50272096</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "The Seawater Greenhouse, an idea for inexpensive solar driven desalination?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>More reading:
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032115010953" rel="nofollow">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S13640...</a><p><a href="https://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/technology" rel="nofollow">https://www.seawatergreenhouse.com/technology</a><p><a href="https://greenhouse.agency/insights/greenhouse-pioneer-charlie-paton/" rel="nofollow">https://greenhouse.agency/insights/greenhouse-pioneer-charli...</a><p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-people-creating-an-oasis-with-seawater.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-peopl...</a><p><a href="https://grokipedia.com/page/Seawater_greenhouse" rel="nofollow">https://grokipedia.com/page/Seawater_greenhouse</a></p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:35:51 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50078343</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50078343</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50078343</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "The Seawater Greenhouse, an idea for inexpensive solar driven desalination?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The Seawater Greenhouse, an idea for inexpensive solar driven desalination?<p>The Seawater (Solar) Greenhouse is an interesting relatively low-tech idea for inexpensive desalination, turning sea water into fresh water.
The Greenhouse concentrates energy directly from the Sun, to evaporate salt water, collecting the fresh water as condensation. It doesnt need any other energy source directly for desalination, just a much smaller amount to run the pumps that move the seawater to and around the Greenhouse. This can be powered by Solar Panels, but apart from the pumps/panels, the rest of the Greenhouse could be built from materials similar to an ordinary Greenhouse, at a capital/running cost far below that of a traditional desalination plant.<p>There is already a working 20 hectare system in Port Augusta, South Australia, where the process is used to generate water for commercial salad crops. It is an idea that has been around since the 1990s, but yet to be very widely exploited, so there is much that might be done to improve the efficiency of the existing systems, and reduce costs. The ideal system might be a kit of parts that can be assembled in any hot arid area that is near the coast, and generate cheap fresh water.<p>Maybe it can supply some areas of recent wildfire damaged forest, to help water/protect new trees during summer droughts.<p>Given current climate concerns, this might be an idea whose time has come.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_greenhouse" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_greenhouse</a><p>A.M.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:54:54 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046546</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046546</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046546</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Seawater Greenhouse, an idea for inexpensive solar driven desalination?]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_greenhouse">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_greenhouse</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046545">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046545</a></p>
<p>Points: 2</p>
<p># Comments: 2</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:54:54 +0000</pubDate><link>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seawater_greenhouse</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046545</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50046545</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Mel's Disco Bassoon"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Help name Mel's new Band!
This is a novel little puzzle game, with versions for the Atari400/800, C64, C16, Vic20, ZX Spectrum, MSDOS, or Windows/Linux via SDL. The program is small, for example the Vic20 version is under 3K.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:05:52 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689670</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689670</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689670</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Mel's Disco Bassoon]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/mels-disco-bassoon">https://orac81.itch.io/mels-disco-bassoon</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689669">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689669</a></p>
<p>Points: 3</p>
<p># Comments: 1</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:05:52 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/mels-disco-bassoon</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689669</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49689669</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[TFreax, a new 3k shootem up game for the Vic20, c64, Atari 400, etc. Open source]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/tfreax">https://orac81.itch.io/tfreax</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49381405">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49381405</a></p>
<p>Points: 2</p>
<p># Comments: 0</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:56:37 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/tfreax</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49381405</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49381405</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Owarix, version of 8000 year old game for the Vic20. (3k: v20,c64,c16,zx,PC)]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/owarix">https://orac81.itch.io/owarix</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48803527">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48803527</a></p>
<p>Points: 3</p>
<p># Comments: 0</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:08:11 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/owarix</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48803527</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48803527</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Ask HN: What do you predict the world will look like in 5-10 years?"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Every child will own its own unicorn.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:53:28 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48745261</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48745261</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48745261</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Dynamo Draughts. 10x10 game for DOS, open source]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/dynamo-draughts">https://orac81.itch.io/dynamo-draughts</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48744280">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48744280</a></p>
<p>Points: 2</p>
<p># Comments: 0</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:27:38 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/dynamo-draughts</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48744280</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48744280</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Wall-run (4k:c64,v20,c16,zx,PC)"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Well ok, but with missiles!</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:42:46 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738205</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738205</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738205</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wall-run (4k:c64,v20,c16,zx,PC)]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/wall-run">https://orac81.itch.io/wall-run</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738129">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738129</a></p>
<p>Points: 4</p>
<p># Comments: 2</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:36:10 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/wall-run</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738129</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738129</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Rock Balloons. (4k:c64/v20/c16/zx/pc)]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/rock-balloons">https://orac81.itch.io/rock-balloons</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738011">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738011</a></p>
<p>Points: 3</p>
<p># Comments: 0</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:26:58 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/rock-balloons</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738011</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48738011</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "I'm building a Space Cadet Pinball Machine! [video]"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Cool, but it needs to use all the original steam powered relays and mechanism in my book.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:22:35 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48737948</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48737948</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48737948</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "5x5 Pixel font for tiny screens"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The site looks interesting, but it has a pop up called "navigation" that cannot be closed, and sits over the page rendering parts unreadable.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:09:19 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47873944</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47873944</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47873944</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "Skattabugz, a fast paced shootem up for the C64, C16, Vic20, Spectrum"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>The program is just 3k long, and can run on an 5k vic20. The Source code is included.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 21:12:14 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771594</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771594</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771594</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Skattabugz, a fast paced shootem up for the C64, C16, Vic20, Spectrum]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>Article URL: <a href="https://orac81.itch.io/skattabugz">https://orac81.itch.io/skattabugz</a></p>
<p>Comments URL: <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771344">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771344</a></p>
<p>Points: 2</p>
<p># Comments: 1</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:51:29 +0000</pubDate><link>https://orac81.itch.io/skattabugz</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771344</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47771344</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[New comment by orac81 in "TinyLife6502. GOL in 114 Bytes"]]></title><description><![CDATA[
<p>TinyLife6502. GOL in 114 bytes.<p>Download with source:<p><a href="https://github.com/orac81/miniapples/raw/refs/heads/main/lifet/lifet06b.zip" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/orac81/miniapples/raw/refs/heads/main/lif...</a><p><a href="https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=105285" rel="nofollow">https://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=105285</a><p>This is a "size-code" version of the classic LIFE game, for the Commodore C64, C16, C128, VIC20, PET40/80. The smallest version is 126 bytes (see smallbin folder), but I recommend using the slightly bigger version with built in edit and help.<p>To use, just edit using the PET editor to create the patterns using the letter "O" for the cells.
Note that the program is very simple, ie. it doesnt handle screen wrap properly. But it is quite fast.<p>The "small" version needs the user to edit before running. Put the "run" command on the 2nd line. This version needs VIC20 users to type:
POKE 36879,8:print chr$(5)chr$(147) before editing.<p>To avoid all that, use the "big" version!<p>The small version can be 114 bytes if the basic stub is removed and the code started with a SYS.<p>Released as FREE/GPL3 software, source included.</p>
]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:28:27 +0000</pubDate><link>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46159874</link><dc:creator>orac81</dc:creator><comments>https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46159874</comments><guid isPermaLink="false">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46159874</guid></item></channel></rss>