Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Z80 – The 1970s Microprocessor Still Alive (2021)

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

3 Dominant Themes in the Discussion

Theme	Supporting Quote
Z80‑compatible parts are still being produced and used today	“IIRC, only the classic 40‑pin DIP Z80 was discontinued. The eZ80, which is fully compatible, is still in production.” — Gormo
The Z80’s ISA is messy because of backward‑compatibility constraints	“\"Simple\" is really not a word I would associate with the Z80 ;) The ISA is quite messy because of the backward compatibility requirement with the Intel 8080 (e.g. the Z80 had to fill undocumented gaps in the 8080 opcode encoding map with new instructions, four of which were prefix instructions to unlock additional instruction ‘subsets’ …).” — flohofwoe
Retro hobbyists still enjoy low‑level programming on the Z80	“Due to its simplicity it's a fun little processor to program. Hacking on some assembly on a ZX spectrum emulator is a nice way to stay sane in this high abstraction LLM age.” — meekins

🚀 Project Ideas

Z80 Assembly Playground

Summary

A browser‑based IDE that lets users write, assemble, debug, and run Z80 code in a built‑in emulator.
Removes the friction of setting up local toolchains and vintage hardware, letting hobbyists stay “sane in the LLM age”.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Retro programmers, hobbyists, educators, and anyone nostalgic for ZX Spectrum/CP/M development
Core Feature	Integrated assembler + real‑time emulator with source‑level debugging and breakpoints
Tech Stack	React front‑end, WebAssembly for the Z80 core, Node.js API for file storage, Docker for deployment
Difficulty	Medium
Monetization	Revenue-ready: Subscription $9/mo

Notes

Quote from meekins: “Hacking on some assembly on a ZX spectrum emulator is a nice way to stay sane in this high abstraction LLM age.” – this tool directly addresses that pain.
Enables quick experimentation, sharing of snippets, and learning without needing physical hardware, fostering community discussion.

RetroKit Marketplace

Summary

An online marketplace and community hub for modern retro‑computing kits (e.g., RC2014 accessories, Z80 bridge boards, custom FPGA add‑ons).
Curates vetted designs, provides 3D‑printable files, firmware, and documentation, lowering entry barriers.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Makers, retro‑hardware enthusiasts, collectors, and developers looking to extend classic Z80 systems
Core Feature	Marketplace listings with buyer/seller ratings, downloadable design packages, and forum integration
Tech Stack	Django + PostgreSQL for marketplace, React for UI, Stripe for payments, GitHub for version control
Difficulty	Low
Monetization	Revenue-ready: 10% marketplace commission

Notes

Refer to Gormo’s comment: “I don’t know – I'm seeing a lot of corner‑cutting in the board designs!” – users want quality, curated kits.
Provides a single place to discover reliable builds, sparking discussion and practical utility for building modern retro rigs.

Z80 USB Bridge Board

Summary

A plug‑and‑play USB peripheral that connects a modern PC to any Z80‑based system, offering easy flashing, serial console, and power control.
Bridges the gap between vintage hardware and contemporary development workflows.

Details

Key	Value
Target Audience	Hobbyist retro‑computers owners, educators using Z80 kits, and developers who want to program Z80 without soldering
Core Feature	USB‑to‑Z80 adapter with ISP flashing, UART console, and configurable I/O pins; firmware supports Arduino‑style APIs
Tech Stack	STM32 microcontroller, KiCad PCB design, Open‑source firmware (C), USB CDC/SCI drivers
Difficulty	Medium
Monetization	Revenue-ready: $49 one-time purchase

Notes

Echoes heyLaughingBoy’s question “Do you have an actual use for them?” – this product gives a concrete use case.
Enables users to breathe new life into Z80 hardware, encouraging community projects and discussions about preserving legacy platforms.