PX-8 Livecoding Terminal

RaspberryPi based PX-8 terminal, custom build for Easterner a NYC based livecoding artist.

The project is built around a repurposed Epson PX-8, an early laptop from the mid-1980s. The main goal was to design a portable livecoding terminal for ORCA, a livecoding environment for creating music. By using a raspberryPi running Debian OS, it is also possible to use the final piece as a command line terminal, Word processor, and run Python scripts.

In order to keep as much of the original hardware intact, I was able to repurpose the original keyboard and keyboard PCB by incorporating a esp32 microcontroller which acts as an HID keyboard connected through usb to the raspberryPi. The original LCD screen was replaced by an 8.8in LED screen, the original battery was replaced by a modern 10000mAh pack, and two USB ports were added to the back of the case.