Commander X16

I recently built a reproduction Altair 8800 after years of realizing I'll never be able to buy a real one. Although I grew up in basic in the 80s I've never really appreciated it as I soon discovered just how slow interpreted languages can be. But that experience made me realize just how phenomenally life changing having a computer like that with a basic interpreter for the first time would have been. It was apparent just how easy it would be to solve complex problems with this new tool. As a result I've been on a binge trying to come up with problems that a computer would help someone with in 1977.
The first project I worked on was a Soduko solver (first in basic). Although it I did get a working solver in basic on the Altair some of the harder puzzles took 6 hours to solve. So I switched to C and started some optimizations, and had a program that would solve most problems in just a few minutes.
It seemed to me it would be fun to try the same on the Commander X16 so I took the solver and wrote a front end that for the Commander X16. I'm not sure this will be of any interest to the community but I enjoyed the experience and wanted to share anyway. You can find the source at https://github.com/RealNatpie/X16-Soduko, or download the executable from the releases.

EDIT: So it turns out I started spelling Sudoku incorrectly at some point and it was everywhere. Quick update with thing spelled correctly this time around. V1.1a uses the correct spelling. I've also renamed the repository https://github.com/RealNatpie/X16-Sudoku as I spelled this wrong EVERYWHERE.

Hi! Nice to meet another Altair lover in the group.

I also don't own a real Altair, but I have several Altair-Duino units (5 at last count), and I've discovered that the X16 makes a pretty decent terminal for the Altair using the Serial/Network card from Texelec.

This looks like a fun little program. Do you still have the Altair versions available?

Here is a random puzzle. The one in the initial image posted is one I use for testing because its more resistant to bruit force solving than other puzzles.

TomXP411 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 5:49 pm Hi! Nice to meet another Altair lover in the group.

I also don't own a real Altair, but I have several Altair-Duino units (5 at last count), and I've discovered that the X16 makes a pretty decent terminal for the Altair using the Serial/Network card from Texelec.

This looks like a fun little program. Do you still have the Altair versions available?

Sure here are the source and binary for the original one I wrote for the Altair. I don't have a repo for this one yet. It probably could do with some polishing. Its compiled using aztec c. It needs to be linked to the m.lib and c.lib.


I've been connecting my X16 and Altair over Wireless recently. Works great. I've been pondering the idea of making a simple game, maybe a card game that you can play over the serial port and has a client for the Altair and X16. Sounds like there are people in this community that would actually be able to use it, even if its unpractical.

Is it the same as a sudoku or do the different vowels mean it's a different puzzle?

kelli217 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 7:10 pm Is it the same as a sudoku or do the different vowels mean it's a different puzzle?

Well it means I'm an idiot that cant spell. I'll have to submit it as an issue on the github.

natpie wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 6:15 pm

TomXP411 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 5:49 pm Hi! Nice to meet another Altair lover in the group.

I also don't own a real Altair, but I have several Altair-Duino units (5 at last count), and I've discovered that the X16 makes a pretty decent terminal for the Altair using the Serial/Network card from Texelec.

This looks like a fun little program. Do you still have the Altair versions available?

Sure here are the source and binary for the original one I wrote for the Altair. I don't have a repo for this one yet. It probably could do with some polishing. Its compiled using aztec c. It needs to be linked to the m.lib and c.lib.


I've been connecting my X16 and Altair over Wireless recently. Works great. I've been pondering the idea of making a simple game, maybe a card game that you can play over the serial port and has a client for the Altair and X16. Sounds like there are people in this community that would actually be able to use it, even if its unpractical.

Well darn way more people wanted the CP/M80 version that I expected. That was just a really rough version I was using to try and solve this problem in less than hours. Here is a little bit of polish with a nicer interface put together. Didn't know the Altair community was as involved in the X16 as it is.

natpie wrote: ↑Thu Apr 03, 2025 7:43 pm Well it means I'm an idiot that cant spell.

Verified. You also forgot the apostrophe in "cant"