Feeling Nostalgic with the LisaFPGA
Apple Lisas are scarce these days. Here’s a less expensive method to create your own – theoretically, it can even operate original floppy drives. LisaFPGA does exactly what it proclaims on the GitHub repository: “The Apple Lisa computer emulated within an FPGA!” It’s an open-source initiative that reproduces a complete Apple Lisa on an FPGA board. While it’s not fully finalized, hardware became available for purchase in May, and you might still be able to acquire one – or download the bitstream of the model and assemble your own.
Apple’s Eccentric Journey Through Time
The Apple Lisa was quite an unusual computer, partly due to its groundbreaking design. Apple initiated the project prior to the notable visits to Xerox PARC that inspired the Alto – another revolutionary machine, as GadgetLad aimed to articulate in 2023 for the machine’s 50th anniversary. Following those visits (for which Apple compensated Xerox in shares, promptly sold by the photocopier giant), Apple altered its direction. The Lisa would become the first mass-market computer featuring a GUI. (The “mass market” aspect failed, as 2,700 unsold Lisas ended up in a landfill in 1989.) Nevertheless, it was a significant and impactful machine: GadgetLad honored its 30th anniversary and took another retrospective look in 2019.
Hunting for the Elusive Lisa
Thus, locating an Apple Lisa today is quite challenging, and if you succeed, it will likely (a) cost you a fair amount of money and (b) not be in operational condition. This is unfortunate as Apple published the source for Lisa OS in 2023 to commemorate the machine’s 40th anniversary.
The Mind Behind LisaFPGA
The innovative developer responsible for LisaFPGA is Alex Anderson-McLeod, who cultivated his expertise on the Lisa and its implementation from a previous project. Last year, he figured out how to compile and create Lisa OS from Apple’s source code. This was a notably complex achievement, and he extensively documents the process of Lisa OS Source Code Compilation. We’ve closely examined the account, and we think it’s accurate to say that the building process is profoundly intricate. (Regrettably, the repository doesn’t include the source code itself, as the peculiar “Apple Academic License Agreement” permits recompilation and study, yet prohibits redistribution. To access the code, you’ll need to accept the license at the Computer History Museum.)
The Obstacles of Creating LisaFPGA
Anderson-McLeod gained substantial insights into the workings of the Lisa while reconstructing the OS, and he has utilized that understanding in designing and constructing LisaFPGA. It is not entirely complete – under “Features,” the Introduction section of the README notes: “Onboard ESP32-based floppy drive emulation (NOTE: THIS DOESN’T FUNCTION YET).” A few lines later: “Supports Twiggy drives with an optional breakout board. Note that this is CURRENTLY UNTESTED as I lack a set of Twiggy drives.” Even so, we are impressed by the endeavor, and it seems like a highly engaging piece of equipment.
The Demand for LisaFPGA
The initial batch has already been sold out, but completed boards were available from two official sources: MacEffects for £264.89, and Joe’s Computer Museum for $350. Both will collect your information and notify you when the next batch is prepared. If you can’t wait, there is Ray Arachelian’s Lisa Emulator Project.
The Heritage of Ray Arachelian
The history segment is especially fascinating, beginning with So, Ray, what draws you to antiquated, obsolete machines? The LisaEm source code is hosted on GitHub, but unfortunately, Arachelian passed away from cancer in 2023, which is why version 1.2.7 never progressed beyond Release Candidate 4. We believe it would be a fitting tribute for someone to take it up and create a final release. Meanwhile, we wrote about the remarkable LisaGUI website last year, which simulates the machine’s user interface within your browser.
Conclusion: The Apple That’s Difficult to Take a Bite Of
The LisaFPGA project illustrates that even past tech missteps have a chance at redemption, albeit with some dedicated effort. Whether you’re a nostalgic tech enthusiast or simply someone who appreciates vintage oddities, this project could very well pique your interest, assuming it doesn’t spill out of those untested Twiggy drives first!
