Hackaday Podcast Ep 322: Fake Hackaday Writers, New Retro Computers, and a Web Rant
May 23, 2025
This week, the hosts pay tribute to Ed Smylie, who ingeniously helped save the Apollo 13 astronauts. They unveil exciting open-source projects, including a high-speed Ethernet switch and the revival of Doom on an Atari ST. A minimalist programming language from the '70s, Mouse, is explored alongside hacks like a Raspberry Pi image processor. The discussion also critiques modern web design challenges and the pitfalls of tech company dominance, while humorously pondering AI's attempt at emulating human creativity. Tune in for a mix of nostalgia and innovation!
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Ed Smylie's Life-Saving Duct Tape Hack
- Ed Smylie used duct tape and on-board materials to build a carbon dioxide filter that saved Apollo 13 astronauts.
- His cleverness made duct tape a permanent fixture on all US space missions.
Open Source Revives Retro Computers
- Open source projects now replicate hard-to-find parts of retro computers like the Mac Plus.
- This trend enables building complete retro systems with modern, more available components.
Secure LoRa Messenger With Rolling Keys
- Bertrand Selva's PiPico LoRa messenger uses preloaded SD card keys to encrypt communication dynamically.
- Keys change every two minutes with backward secrecy by deleting old keys, ensuring privacy.
