I am a retired mainframe COBOL developer by trade. Still dabble with it some on the PC.

I never got much into cobol by the time I could code it was Basic (Gbasic and MS-Basic, my dad use to maintain a mainframe. I started on Pascal in the early
90's then moved to C/C++ with a bit of ASM.

Nice. I started with TI-BASIC, mostly altering programs that I would find
and key in from the TI 99er Magazine. Took a class in high school where we programmed in C-64 BASIC, and then BASIC and PASCAL in college as electives.
I wasn't bad on the Commodore, but never got great at either one of the
others.

After being laid off a couple of times (IT consultant, computer operator),
I got a job at a place that was still willing to train COBOL developers.
The rest is history. ;)

I primarally develop C/C++ for Microcontrollers (PIC,SAM,AVR) automation systems though have dabbled with embedded linux with a Beaglebone and Raspberr
Pi.

Interesting. Those are of some interest to me, if I can figure out a way
to integrate them into other hobbies, like model railroading. So far, all
I have used Pis for is as computers and to "host" a remote camera.


* SLMR 2.1a * It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
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Howdy,

I am a retired mainframe COBOL developer by trade. Still dabble with it some on the PC.

Do you play with hercules? What do you do with it?

I did install hercules once but, currently, that machine is disassembled.
I never really got past installing one of the freeware older OSes on it
and confirming it was working.

I mostly work on the PC with an copy of IBM's PC COBOL compiler that I
found on sale once. Don't use it often these days, but used to use it to
write a few companion programs for my old DOS GT Power BBS. The two that I still use now are a Last 10 caller list, & a DOOR.SYS/DORINFO conversion program.


* SLMR 2.1a * So it goes so it goes so it goes so it goes so...
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Re: New board added to the ne
By: Dumas Walker to PATIENT1413 on Tue Jun 03 2025 10:49:00

Interesting. Those are of some interest to me, if I can figure out a way to integrate them into other hobbies, like model railroading. So far, all

I don't recall the exact name, but there is a model railroad DCC control system based on Arduino (which use the Microchip (Atmel) AVR microcontroller.

Which if you are after a platform to play with embedded electronics but don't w ant to go bare-metal can be a good starting point as the Arduino gives you a de velopment board that you can just start plugging stuff into.

I have used Pis for is as computers and to "host" a remote camera.

I have a Beaglebone black running as a control system for lighting, lights around the house are all 12v LED to the beagle can flick in the off-grid power supply when we have power outages.


...Love is what you've been through with somebody.

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Interesting. Those are of some interest to me, if I can figure out a way
to integrate them into other hobbies, like model railroading. So far, al

I don't recall the exact name, but there is a model railroad DCC control syste
based on Arduino (which use the Microchip (Atmel) AVR microcontroller.

Which if you are after a platform to play with embedded electronics but don't ant to go bare-metal can be a good starting point as the Arduino gives you a d
velopment board that you can just start plugging stuff into.

My engines and equipment are all older and DC, but I think there are also
some signal/lighting control systems or projects based on the arduino that
I might try out one day.

I have used Pis for is as computers and to "host" a remote camera.

I have a Beaglebone black running as a control system for lighting, lights around the house are all 12v LED to the beagle can flick in the off-grid power
supply when we have power outages.

Sounds pretty complex, but I bet it isn't as complex as I imagine.


* SLMR 2.1a * <>>>>>>>>>>>> SURF NAKED <<<<<<<<<<<<>
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Re: New board added to the ne
By: Dumas Walker to PATIENT1413 on Thu Jun 05 2025 08:14:00

I have a Beaglebone black running as a control system for lighting, lights

Sounds pretty complex, but I bet it isn't as complex as I imagine.

No where near as complex as it could be made :)

My first run-in with a Beaglebone was for work, A BeagleBone Black is at the heart of fuel pumps and vapour recovery systems where I worked.

I adopted some ways of doing things, I made a cape that sits in the switchboard that the BeagleBone plugs onto.

Essentially it's an over engineered PLC

Ultimately it will monitor and manage everything around the house.

...Answers: $1, Short: $5, Correct: $25, dumb looks are still free.

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