An nameless classic computing fanatic has arrange “Bit Eclectic,” providing a novel technique to boot in style packages on an Apple II: by connecting it to a web site and utilizing the Internet Serial software programming interface (API) to faux it is a disk drive.
“Bit Eclectic makes use of your World Broad Internet Browser as a disk drive on your Apple II,” the undertaking’s documentation explains. “Arrange the serial connection between the 2 and you may solely should click on a button to play. It is most likely secure to imagine that is being learn in a World Broad Internet Browser on a Pc that is Linked to the Web. That is half of the elements already put collectively!”
it would appear to be a minimalist web site, however Bit Eclectic is smarter than that: it is a practical browser-based Apple II disk drive. (📷: Bit Eclectic)
The undertaking presents a user-friendly method to the software program aspect of issues: merely opening the positioning in an internet browser which helps the Internet Serial API — which incorporates Chromium, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Opera — is sufficient. A bodily connection is then created from the desktop or laptop computer to an Apple II through a Tremendous Serial Card add-in board.
As soon as the Tremendous Serial Card is correctly configured, and the related browser settings tweaked if Internet Serial is not on by default, Bit Eclectic presents presumably the best technique to boot software program on an Apple II — even when its disk drive is useless: simply energy up the Apple II, kind IN#2, and choose a recreation from the checklist.
Bit Eclectic is reside now on BitEclectic.com, with 4 video games on the time of writing: Apple Journey!, Fort Wolfenstein, Lemonade Stand, and Sabotage. Directions for making the connection between the machines is accessible on a devoted web page.
