Admiral Shark

Been a hot minute! 🦈 SHORK 486 #Linux is now testing 7.1-rc kernels with 486 support re-added! SHORK 486 now also includes MicroPython, Lynx browser, sc-im spreadsheet editor with XLSX import/export, and mt-st for SCSI tape drives! c3270 and TN5250 for terminal emulation should be next up! 👀

More SHORK 486 #Linux on an IBM #ThinkPad 365ED! github.com/SharktasticA...

A timeless classic

Just revamped my wiki page on IBM buckling sleeves, the keyswitch used by many Model M variants that didn't use buckling springs or rubber domes. They're also originally what established the ThinkPad as a portable keyboard powerhouse! Have a read: sharktastica.co.uk/wiki?id=ibmb...

IBM buckling sleeve | Shark's Wiki

The design, operation and evolution of the IBM buckling rubber sleeve tactile keyswitch found on IBM Models M3, M4, M6, M7, M8, M9, M11 & Modular POS keyboards (amongst others)

Hi, I'm Admiral Shark, and I've been on a mission to collect, research and document IBM, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo & TGCS keyboards for 5 years for posterity! I also enjoy PCs, ThinkPads, terminals & POS equipment.
Site: sharktastica.co.uk
Socials: linktr.ee/sharktastica
Reddit: reddit.com/r/modelm

Hello, it's been a while. I recently got this #ThinkPad #R500! It is a good configuration with a 1680x1050 display and ATI 3470. I dropped a T9600 and 8GB RAM into this and installed #Debian, and it's golden. The thing is thicc and sturdy, and has great hinges. Honestly, much prefer this to my T400.

This big forehead turns 40 years old today

Took some up-to-date photos of #SHORK 486 #Linux on my #IBM #ThinkPad 365ED, demonstrating kernel 7.2-rc working with 486/586 support patched back in! More photos: ftp.sharktastica.co.uk/shork-linux/...

#Linux #kernel 7.1 is out & can be built with #SHORK 486! 7.1 removes 486 support, some ISA & PCMCIA network drivers & IBM PC 110 trackpad driver - all of which are patched back in! github.com/SharktasticA... SHORK 486's first release is next week as I hope to expand testing and gauge more opinions!

For my #Arch #Linux friends out there, shorkfetch (my shark-themed *fetch utility originally for SHORK 486) is now on AUR! Please give it a try and let me know what you think and if there any bugs or weird/overly verbose output!
github.com/SharktasticA...
aur.archlinux.org/packages/sho...

SHORK 486 Linux now has a spin on sl (steam locomotive) - shorklocomotive! Can also compile it yourself for modern Linux. Perhaps basic right now, I have more plans for it: custom colours, different shark species, and some sort of shark train for proper homage to the OG! github.com/SharktasticA...

▶

Happy 21st birthday to this Unicomp-made IBM Model M13 3494 Track Pointer Keyboard! 🎂 It can now legally drink in the USA, but since this keyboard and I are in the UK, it's already been doing so for 3 years.

These old marketing photos of various IBM Model M RPOS Keyboards goes hard

A productive start of the week for #SHORK 486 #Linux with Cscope, Ctags, dialog, Indent, Make & NASM compiled and tested! There was also "budget" to enable 33 new BusyBox coreutils. All can now be tried from the PT1 branch! Here are all the available commands on a Plus build as of tonight!

The #SHORK #Linux build script now has an option to configure SHORK 486 for serial console usage for you! Here's a demonstration of it...

▶

It is done, SHORK 486 Linux is now available with kernel 7.0.0! github.com/SharktasticA...

Admiral Shark @sharktastica.co.uk

I'm testing SHORK 486 Linux with kernel 7.0rc7! It kinda *just worked*, and naturally, I immediately threw it into the fire with 16MHz 486SX and just 7MB RAM... I'm amused at the prospect of this distro for a 1989 CPU having a newer kernel than most of the people reading this! 😆

I wanted a wallpaper slideshow of IBM patent diagrams, so I made it so! I took the patent drawings as seen on Google Patents, inverted them, removed any artefacts outside the bounds of the subject, and then made them 16:9. You can find them all on my FTP: ftp.sharktastica.co.uk/patents/

We do be clicking

▶

Nothing fancy, just does the job

#SHORK 486 #Linux has finally got Vim! Wasn't so easy since it turns out it's a RAM hog on 486 levels of RAM... If you have 16MiB RAM + 16 swap, 24+8 or 32, it's fine. Otherwise, opening files that trigger syntax highlighting is too much... To fix, SHORK automatically creates a swapfile for Vim.

#SHORK 486 #Linux will be getting some minesweeper! I found an interesting implementation, terminal-mines by Joel Ekström, that I forked, simplified given the target platform and added SHORK's visual cues. Available with SHORK soon! github.com/SharktasticA...

😔 Looks like the Model M MCANPOS & MPOS LCD keyboards have been retired, gone from TGCS's site. If true, it means we're down to just 3 Model Ms with buckling sleeve switches - original IBM ThinkPad keyboard descendents - left. 35 years of history at knife's edge. commerce.toshiba.com/wps/portal/m...

SHORK 486 #Linux can now be built with multi-user/password-protected support! About time I added this... I feel like we're getting close to a first release for wider testing/beta. I think the main thing missing now is a proper settings program... Soon! github.com/SharktasticA...

I'm testing SHORK 486 Linux with kernel 7.0rc7! It kinda *just worked*, and naturally, I immediately threw it into the fire with 16MHz 486SX and just 7MB RAM... I'm amused at the prospect of this distro for a 1989 CPU having a newer kernel than most of the people reading this! 😆