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Show HN: Resurrecting Infocom's Unix Z-Machine with Cosmopolitan

(christopherdrum.github.io)
156 points ChristopherDrum | 1 comments | 14 Apr 25 03:51 UTC | HN request time: 0.231s | source

I recently brought Infocom's original UNIX z-machine source code back to life on modern systems. The modified source code, instructions on usage, a build of the z-machine, and examples of embedded game executables are available.

There is also a detailed write-up about the state of the original source code, the porting process, and the invaluable role Justine Tunney's Cosmpolitan project played in bringing the Zork trilogy (and more) to Windows/Mac/Linux/bsd for arm/x86 machines over the course of a lazy Sunday.

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joshu ◴[14 Apr 25 04:57 UTC] No.43678188[source]▶
i think ucsd p-system vm predates z-machine by a couple of years (re OP's origin of vm use comment)
replies(2): >>43678260 #>>43682390 #
ChristopherDrum ◴[14 Apr 25 05:10 UTC] No.43678260[source]▶
Interesting to know, thanks. My intention with that comment was in pondering about vms distributed commercially in the home market, which I don't think I made clear enough in the post. :/
replies(3): >>43679731 #>>43679816 #>>43682377 #
1. ghaff ◴[14 Apr 25 15:28 UTC] No.43682377[source]▶
There were a bunch of minicomputer and the Unix operating systems that would arguable have been better than Microsoft’s entries. But it just wasn’t in the DNA of those companies to sell a consumer-priced operating systems.