OldIron
A subscription archive of interactive retro-computing deep-dives — read the StarLink story, then boot a simulated CP/M session right in your browser with the same software the article describes.
Computing history enthusiasts and educators of computer-science history
- Long-form articles paired with embedded emulators so the hardware described is running on the same page
- Side-by-side comparisons of multiuser systems (StarLink, Altos, Xenix) with cost and capability breakdowns
- Classroom-ready packs with discussion questions and a guided emulator session
- Timeline view of 1979-1990 business computing to anchor each article in context
The viral StarLink essay is one of dozens of computing-history pieces that die in link rot; a home for them with working simulations makes the history tangible for students.
The 'Starlink from 1984' Substack post hit ~47 HN points / 19 comments and RetroStack — the closest retro-computing Patreon — has only 74 members earning $77.1/month total, indicating a small but real niche.StarLink from 1984 - by Nemanja Trifunovic ↗RetroStack | Educational content about vintage computing | Patreon ↗
PCjs already runs CP/M-86, DOS, WordStar, VisiCalc, Windows 1.0, etc. directly in the browser for free; v86 also emulates x86 OSes in-browser; Internet Archive hosts the underlying software — the 'bootable simulation' core is commoditized, leaving only the curated article+sim pairing as differentiator.PCjs Machines ↗v86 — x86 PC Emulator in Your Browser ↗The Internet Archive Software Collection ↗
Best-documented comparable (RetroStack Patreon) earns ~$77/month across 74 members, and the main free alternatives (PCjs, v86, Archive.org) are high-quality and non-commercial — willingness to pay a subscription for this content is weak.RetroStack | Educational content about vintage computing | Patreon ↗PCjs Machines ↗
Computing-history interest is durable (decades-long communities), but free preservation projects and link-rot-resilient primary sources (Archive.org) keep the topic well-served regardless of paid wrappers.Retro Software Foundation — Preserving Computing History ↗
The simulation layer is essentially solved — v86 and PCjs are mature open-source browser emulators — so building an article-paired MVP on top is a content/editorial effort, not a hard engineering one.v86 — x86 PC Emulator in Your Browser ↗GitHub - profphillips/pcjs: The original IBM PC and other classic ... ↗