so I have an embarrassing problem: I work with computers, but I have no idea how they work. for someone who strives to understand things this is an unacceptable state of affairs. So I have ordered this #RC2014 kit from @ZxSpectROM. it's a DIY build-your-own retro computer kit.

in spare cycles over the next few weeks, I'm going to assemble this computer piece by piece in order to understand things more deeply. today: the backplane. All the different parts of the computer — CPU, RAM, disk drives, etc. — will plug in to this board that connects them all.

First #RC2014 module built! I figured the best place to start was the clock module. It's not a clock like you'd think of a wall clock; it's more like a metronome. In order for the computer to do stuff, the CPU needs a clock signal rising and falling. That's what this board does.

I also chose it because I knew could see if I'd succeeded without having to build any other modules: using that lovely classic Tektronix scope by my workbench, I can see that I have a signal, and it looks very much like a clock!