Simplest Truly Open Computer We Can Make

[tecknian1]

“Computers should be like pencils and hammers: simple tools that anyone can understand, make, repair, and use freely.”

## Ideas for a Public-Domain Computer

Photonic computing could potentially provide very high speeds, low power consumption, and massive parallelism. I would like to discuss whether it could be used to create a practical general-purpose computer, or whether there is a simpler way to achieve the same goal.

This is only an idea for discussion at this stage, not a fixed project plan. I would like to hear people’s thoughts:

- Could a photonic computer be built at home or by a small community?
- Could optical logic be simpler or more powerful than traditional electronic logic?
- What would be the simplest design that could still be fast enough for useful everyday tasks?

The computer should be Turing-complete. I am considering Rule 110, or perhaps something simpler, as a foundation for a design that could simulate a conventional processor using simple building blocks.

It should also be completely modular and flexible, without forcing users to adopt specific types of I/O.

If you are interested in photonics, computer architecture, electronics, software, or radically simpler computers, share your ideas.

[Anon E. Moose]

I have already digged in this direction and my answer, is, unfortunately, "no". photonic computers won't be made from dirt and sticks. though i've seen a guy on yt who described how such computers work and how he is going to build one. however, he already has lithography machine and some other equipment.
for now the simplest way to have open hardware is to build all of the components from transistors and ICs. see pineapple one (homemade 32-bit risc-v cpu) for example: https://pineapple-one.github.io/
i also though about organic semiconductors at some point. for sure, transistors from such components work slower but such transistors manufacture does not require a cleanroom. regarding this part, i found out that copper phtalocyanine is a good semiconductor candidate which is harmless to people, relatively accessible (it's a pigment) and can be synthesized from obtainable components. i can send more links about the process, if anyone is interested. but in order to manufacture transistors the one needs to have a thermal evaporator (expensive but achievable).
there is also a community of people who show how to build tools for silicon chips manufacture (including thermal evaporator): https://docs.hackerfab.org/home

[anonymous_]

Yeah, we need more accessible information about stuff like this. This is the true way of dependency and backdoored-ness.

There's also a surprising numbers of videos on youtube about homebrew CPUs.

[mia2ndpassword]

“Computers should be like pencils and hammers: simple tools that anyone can understand, make, repair, and use freely.”

## Ideas for a Public-Domain Computer

Photonic computing could potentially provide very high speeds, low power consumption, and massive parallelism. I would like to discuss whether it could be used to create a practical general-purpose computer, or whether there is a simpler way to achieve the same goal.

This is only an idea for discussion at this stage, not a fixed project plan. I would like to hear people’s thoughts:

- Could a photonic computer be built at home or by a small community?
- Could optical logic be simpler or more powerful than traditional electronic logic?
- What would be the simplest design that could still be fast enough for useful everyday tasks?

The computer should be Turing-complete. I am considering Rule 110, or perhaps something simpler, as a foundation for a design that could simulate a conventional processor using simple building blocks.

It should also be completely modular and flexible, without forcing users to adopt specific types of I/O.

If you are interested in photonics, computer architecture, electronics, software, or radically simpler computers, share your ideas.

nice concept, but what would you be able to do with them? >:)

[tecknian1]

https://github.com/CMCRobotics/opticalcomputer i thought about that but it is not good enough for home-builders

[tecknian1]

Natural conductors are good for slow tasks. A lot of electronic devices cannot be built at home, such as lasers.

There are also relay computers, but they are slow.

The problem with modern transistors is that they use extremely complex and difficult techniques to make things faster, such as creating nanoscale CPUs and GPUs.

Eventually, things will get worse if no one addresses this crisis.

Air computers exist, but they are not good enough. Optical computers could be affected by dust. What about magnetic computers? magnetic power = electronic power. same issue.

We need a good idea that is both fast and inexpensive.

[tecknian1]

I have already digged in this direction and my answer, is, unfortunately, "no". photonic computers won't be made from dirt and sticks. though i've seen a guy on yt who described how such computers work and how he is going to build one. however, he already has lithography machine and some other equipment.
for now the simplest way to have open hardware is to build all of the components from transistors and ICs. see pineapple one (homemade 32-bit risc-v cpu) for example: https://pineapple-one.github.io/
i also though about organic semiconductors at some point. for sure, transistors from such components work slower but such transistors manufacture does not require a cleanroom. regarding this part, i found out that copper phtalocyanine is a good semiconductor candidate which is harmless to people, relatively accessible (it's a pigment) and can be synthesized from obtainable components. i can send more links about the process, if anyone is interested. but in order to manufacture transistors the one needs to have a thermal evaporator (expensive but achievable).
there is also a community of people who show how to build tools for silicon chips manufacture (including thermal evaporator): https://docs.hackerfab.org/home

can we make a calculator from these materials?