Modern 8-bit microcomputer

X65 is an effort to build an 8-bit microcomputer for the modern era. It uses best of breed components and strives to keep 8-bit feeling, while being usable for daily basis computing activities.

This is only for building the Pi Pico software. For writing 6502 software, see rp6502-vscode.

Install the C/C toolchain for the Raspberry Pi Pico. For more information, read Getting started with the Raspberry Pi Pico.

sudo apt install cmake gcc-arm-none-eabi libnewlib-arm-none-eabi build-essential gdb-multiarch

All dependencies are submodules. The following will download the correct version of all SDKs. It will take an extremely long time to recurse the project, so do this instead:

git submodule update --init
cd src/pico-sdk
git submodule update --init
cd ../..

To debug Pico RIA or Pico VPU code, you need a Debug Probe or a third Pi Pico as a Picoprobe.

The VSCode launch settings connect to a remote debug session. I use multiple terminals for the debugger and console. You'll also want to add a udev rule to avoid a sudo nightmare. The following are rough notes, you may need to install software which is beyond the scope of this README.

Create /etc/udev/rules.d/99-pico.rules with:

#Picoprobe
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="2e8a", MODE="0666"

Debug terminal:

openocd -f interface/cmsis-dap.cfg -c "adapter speed 5000" -f target/rp2350.cfg -s tcl

Console terminal:

minicom -c on -b 115200 -o -D /dev/ttyACM0

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) can forward the Picoprobe to Linux:

PS> usbipd list
BUSID  DEVICE
7-4    CMSIS-DAP v2 Interface, USB Serial Device (COM6)

PS> usbipd wsl attach --busid 7-4

WSL needs udev started. Create /etc/wsl.conf with:

[boot]
command="service udev start"