4am Programming

Tech Distractions - My youtube channel featuring retro PC and game content including documentaries and show-and-tell hardware/software projects.

xyWords - A cross-word anagrams puzzle game and editor for MS-DOS based computers with CGA Graphics (4 Colours) and 384KB+ RAM. Text mode version here for 256KB+ RAM xyWords Text-Mode Edition

99Things - A small find-a-thing game for MS-DOS based computers with CGA Graphics and 256KB+ of RAM.
Includes mouse, adlib sound card and EGA+ 4-Color support.

Windows 3.0 Real Mode Collection - A large collection of applications and games that seem to run under Windows 3.0 real mode. vogons thread here. 

Lite Link - Open-Source Experimental, ultra-lightweight TCP/IP networking and file sharing for 8088-class DOS computers, including remote file transfers and network-mapped drives.

NowBasic - Open-Source New Old Windows BASIC programming language, native Win16 compiler and Integrated Development environment for Windows 1.x and above. Create lightweight graphical applications with native controls, graphics, audio, communications and networking, without external BASIC runtimes.

What is 4am.org?

Thesedays it's just a small site for publishing projects.
Between 1997 and 2001 I wrote many MS-DOS, Windows 3x and 9x applications and utilities.
But as I programmed more and more for work rather than play these projects dwindled away.
I eventually had a career change during 2008 which had me exit programming altogether (well unless you count Excel macros!)

Enter 2023 and a random burst of retro-spiration got me picking up Quickbasic 4.5 after 25ish years and wanting to write some small puzzle games for my collection of really old computers like this Sharp PC-7100!