DevZine

atarist-toolkit-docker is my attempt to make Atari ST development “boring” in the best possible way: predictable, reproducible, and portable. Repo: github.com/sidecartridge/ata… It’s a Docker image that bundles a complete cross-dev toolchain for Atari ST (m68k) so you can build ST binaries from a modern host (Linux/macOS/Windows) without hand-installing and pinning a pile of vintage tooling. Your source tree is mounted into the container, and the wrapper script stcmd runs the container with your UID/GID so artifacts come out with sane ownership. What you get inside the image: - vasmm68k_mot: 68000 assembler (Motorola syntax) - vlink: linker for producing ST executables - m68k-atari-mint-gcc: C cross-compiler targeting Atari ST - libcmini: minimal C stdlib option when you don’t want the size/overhead of full MiNT/POSIX layers - AGT tools: Atari STE-oriented game prototyping toolkit - Python: for build helpers, asset pipelines, scripting, etc. Recently I have seen some homebrew games and apps using it, so a huge THANK YOU for the support!

🎉 Finally, the #Amiga version of the ROM Emulator (Kickstart Emulator) is working flawlessly with all classic Kickstart versions (1.2 to 3.1) and EmuTOS! It’s been quite a journey to make it compatible with those early Kickstarts… but it’s ready, and units will soon ship to selected testers. The more I dive into early Amiga OS, the clearer it becomes this machine was never really meant to be a general-purpose computer. It feels like developing for a gaming console. My main concern now: I can’t ship any Kickstart ROMs due to licensing. On the Atari ST I solved this by bundling EmuTOS and letting users add their own ROMs. For Amiga, if I don’t find a better solution, I’ll likely do the same: ship with EmuTOS and let users provide their own Kickstarts or buy Amiga Forever. 💡 Open to clever alternatives!

🚀 New ACSI2STM Release – Now with D-SUB DB-19 Connector! 🎉 The community’s #1 request has landed. The latest ACSI2STM hard disk for Atari ST/MegaST/STE/MegaSTE comes with a genuine D-SUB DB-19 connector. No more fragile connections, adapters, or hacks. Just plug and play like it’s 1987! 🔧 Also in this revision: - New 4-layer PCB design for better signal integrity & stability. ✨ Why it matters: Atari ACSI ports are old and fragile. The DB-19 makes the ACSI2STM the most robust ST hard disk solution yet. For the sake of rock-solid signal integrity! 💡 Bonus: Internal riser boards available for Mega ST and Mega STE → keep everything hidden inside, powered directly from the machine, while preserving original aesthetics. 👉 Full details, docs & kits: sidecartridge.com/products/a…

🚀 Looks like my journey into analog electronics is finally paying off! Meet my new USB-C PD power supply board, designed for #Atari ST, Mega ST, STe, and entry-level #Amiga. After many hours of testing, everything seems solid and stable. Still fine-tuning the input electrolytics to improve PD negotiation with some picky chargers (cough Apple cough), but honestly… it’s working better than I expected! Since most PD supplies already provide clean, filtered voltage, I ended up removing the original high/low-frequency ripple filters after extensive testing. No measurable gain. Of course, essential filtering is still there — but nothing excessive. The 5V USB-A output was a request from the community on the Discord channel. I ran the numbers and found it added little cost — and lots of value. Thanks folks! 👊 For the external PSU version, the real challenge is the casing and — you guessed it — the power cables. As you know, in 2025, Atari ST and especially Amiga power connectors are anything but common… The internal PSU for ST/Mega ST/STe machines should be available this fall. Cased versions will follow shortly after.

The latest prototypes of the ROM Emulator — the heart of the TOS Emulator — are ready for prime time! Now powered by the new RP2350A and RP2350B chips, both versions have passed all tests and are heading into production. Read cycles are looking fast and snappy: under 80ns on the RP2350A and an impressive sub-45ns on the RP2350B — and yes, they can go even lower with some extra overclocking. We’ve also added support for 512KB ROMs, making it a perfect match not only for the usual suspects like the Atari TT and Falcon, but also the Amiga, Acorn Archimedes, and even early Apple Macintosh machines. And who knows, game consoles? There’s an 8-bit bus mode as well — well, actually, it’s always been 8-bit at the core — with updated firmware tailored for 8-bit systems. The new board design packs some nice upgrades: a sleek single-sided PCB with castellated edges for easy integration into custom hardware, and a slimmer profile overall. It now features three distinct activity LEDs for power, emulation, and storage access. The RP2350B variant also adds a connector for external SPI devices — think mass storage or even networking. Firmware version 3 brings serious performance gains by optimizing bus timing as mentioned above. But the real game-changer? The control API for the ROM emulator will be fully open and available to everyone. Get ready to build cool things on top of it, it’s going to be hackable! The RP2350A version will make its debut in the TOS Emulator for Atari computers as soon as the current batch sells out. The RP2350B will follow later — I’m holding off until the new RM2 network module from @Raspberry_Pi is fully available so I can properly integrate it for first-class networking support.