The Zilog Z80 has just turned 50 years old. This iconic 8-bit processor first went on sale in July 1976 and stayed in production for 48 years until Zilog, now a Littelfuse subsidiary, stopped accepting orders in June 2024. However, there’s an open-source replacement closer than ever to shipping in the chip’s original 40-pin DIP package thanks to community-funded fabrication.

The original Z80 packed 8,500 transistors on a 4μm process and typically ran at 2.5 MHz, with later CMOS variants reaching 20 MHz. Binary compatibility with the Intel 8080 let it absorb the existing CP/M software base, with an on-die DRAM refresh counter that cut the number of support chips a system needed. Development of working prototypes cost roughly $400,000 against $500,000 in funding from Exxon, per the Computer History Museum.

The chip powered the ZX Spectrum, TRS-80, MSX machines, Nintendo's Game Boy, Sega's Master System, the Pac-Man arcade cabinet, and Texas Instruments' graphing calculators, then shipped in industrial controllers for decades after home computing moved on to more powerful successors. Zilog's end-of-life notice, dated April 15, 2024, told customers its wafer foundry was discontinuing support for the Z84C00 family, and last-time-buy orders closed that June.

Renaldas Zioma's FOSS Z80 project, launched shortly after the end-of-life notice, now has working silicon. The first version, fabbed on SkyWater's 130nm node through Tiny Tapeout 7 on a die of just 0.064mm2, has been confirmed as functional via the project’s GitHub repository. A QFN64 version with all 40 pins exposed followed on the Efabless CI2406 shuttle, two further runs then went through IHP's 130nm process, and the current run targets the classic DIP40 form factor using chip-on-board assembly on GlobalFoundries' 180nm GF180MCU node via Wafer.Space. The end goal here is to fab a drop-in replacement for machines like the ZX Spectrum and RC2014 kits.

The design is built around Guy Hutchison's TV80 Verilog core, and the project's Tiny Tapeout page says the 130nm CMOS implementation should support clocks up to 50 MHz, against 4 MHz for the original NMOS part.

https://github.com/rejunity/z80-open-silicon

This post contains a canary message that's cryptographically signed by the official BusKill PGP release key

The BusKill project just published their Warrant Canary #011

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA512

Status: All good
Release: 2026-06-02
Period: 2026-06-01 to 2027-05-31
Expiry: 2027-06-30

Statements
==========

The BusKill Team who have digitally signed this file [1]
state the following:

1. The date of issue of this canary is June 02, 2026.

2. The current BusKill Signing Key (2020.07) is

   E0AF FF57 DC00 FBE0 5635  8761 4AE2 1E19 36CE 786A

3. We positively confirm, to the best of our knowledge, that the 
   integrity of our systems are sound: all our infrastructure is in our 
   control, we have not been compromised or suffered a data breach, we 
   have not disclosed any private keys, we have not introduced any 
   backdoors, and we have not been forced to modify our system to allow 
   access or information leakage to a third party in any way.

4. We plan to publish the next of these canary statements before the
   Expiry date listed above. Special note should be taken if no new
   canary is published by that time or if the list of statements changes
   without plausible explanation.

Special announcements
=====================

None.

Disclaimers and notes
=====================

This canary scheme is not infallible. Although signing the 
declaration makes it very difficult for a third party to produce 
arbitrary declarations, it does not prevent them from using force or 
other means, like blackmail or compromising the signers' laptops, to 
coerce us to produce false declarations.

The news feeds quoted below (Proof of freshness) serves to 
demonstrate that this canary could not have been created prior to the 
date stated. It shows that a series of canaries was not created in 
advance.

This declaration is merely a best effort and is provided without any 
guarantee or warranty. It is not legally binding in any way to 
anybody. None of the signers should be ever held legally responsible 
for any of the statements made here.

Proof of freshness
==================

01 Jun 26 00:32:09 UTC

Source: DER SPIEGEL - International (https://www.spiegel.de/international/index.rss)
NSDAP archive: How DER SPIEGEL processed the data from the Nazi card file
Interactive Research Tool: What Your Family Did Under Hitler – Find Out Here

Source: NYT > World News (https://rss.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/World.xml)
Even Havana’s Street Sweepers Can’t Escape the Impact of the Fuel Blockade
Colombia Presidential Election Heads to a Runoff

Source: BBC News - World (https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/news/world/rss.xml)
Israel seizes castle in Lebanon as it expands ground offensive
Colombia presidential runoff pits leftist senator against pro-Trump rival

Source: Bitcoin Blockchain (https://blockchain.info/q/latesthash)
000000000000000000003c50aa97994e2dd3144d2e5fa7ad899c36034d5a0907

Footnotes
=========

[1] https://docs.buskill.in/buskill-app/en/stable/security/pgpkeys.html

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What is a Warrant Canary?

The BusKill team publishes cryptographically signed warrant canaries on an annual basis.

Although security is one of our top priorities, we might not be able to inform you of of a breach if served with a State-issued, secret subpoena (gag order).

The purpose of publishing these canary statements is to indicate to our users the integrity of our systems.

For more information about BusKill canaries, see:

• https://buskill.in/canary

To view all past canaries, see:

• https://www.buskill.in/category/Canary/

What is BusKill?

BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It's a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.

Watch the BusKill Explainer Video for more info youtube.com/v/qPwyoD_cQR4

If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys -- thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.

Press release: https://home.cern/cerns-kicad-component-library-now-open-source/

We’re releasing a brand new, open-source mouse design: the Bean, which is a pointing stick mouse (also called a nub mouse).

(…)

As with all of our other kits, the Bean is 3D-printed and fully open-source.

Mechanical files, electrical files, and firmware have all been released, along with documentation on how to make and modify your own. It’s all on Github!

The Google Home Mini launched in 2017 as Google's smallest, cheapest smart speaker. Millions were sold, handed out, and given away as promotional gifts.

Many of them still work, but it being in the last phase of its lifecycle means that while it still functions for basic tasks, it doesn't have any kind of customizability or local processing capabilities.

The hardware was fine for the time but has become less relevant in Google's lineup over time, with the Nest Mini, its successor, also discontinued. And more recently, there's been talk of new Gemini-powered smart speakers.

Full construction and details at moskitos.org

Source: https://mas.to/@meganL/116471791500973082

This is one of the people/teams competing for an innovation prize at #Spezi2026. A recumbent trike you can make mostly from wood. "Open source" (I put it in quotes because I know definitions vary and I'm not clear which one this uses).

I'm told the cost was about 1,200, but that is a lot less than a similar recumbent trike with a metal welded frame would cost for materials (not to mention the labor time, skills).

Front wheel drive and the whole rear moves with the handlebars.

"Based on a concept invented more than 10 years ago by two brothers, the moskitOS tilts and turns thanks to the clever use of an articulated trapeze that allows the whole front section, including the rider, to lean when cornering! This solution also has the advantage of driving the front wheel directly, avoiding the classic long transmission chain used on almost all similar vehicles."

non YT link: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=7ktbVxsL2XI

After some digging, the designs for this device are actually open source, albeit I could only find it in portuguese here

You can still use the motorcycle as usual, as it only takes 3 bolts to secure it to the cultivator

Seen that tractors and their implements are still expensive, this seems like a good alternative for small farmers

Even though I personally prefer syntropic farming systems, at least now other folks can make use of this open source hardware

From the video description:

How It Works: The motorcycle is modified with cultivation wheels positioned to align between crop rows. As the rider drives forward, the rotating tines loosen compacted soil and uproot weeds without damaging the main crops. Adjustable spacing allows adaptation to different planting layouts, ensuring precise inter row cultivation.

Advantages:

Faster than manual hoeing  
Reduces labor intensity  
Improves soil aeration  
Low fuel consumption compared to tractors  
Suitable for small and medium farms  

Disadvantages:

Requires skilled handling to avoid crop damage  
Not ideal for very narrow spacing  
Limited to relatively flat terrain  
Engine maintenance required  

Impact on Productivity: This innovation significantly boosts efficiency in crop maintenance. By mechanizing inter row cultivation, farmers can manage larger fields in less time, improve root oxygen supply, and reduce weed competition, ultimately supporting healthier crop growth and higher yields.

Suitable For:

Small scale farmers  
Vegetable and row crop cultivation  
Rural agricultural operations  
Medium sized farms seeking cost efficient mechanization  

___

Friends,

We're happy to announce that we have funding available to package BusKill in QubesOS as a contrib package.

Thanks to a generous donation from NovaCustom, we're offering a bounty to anyone (including you!) who packages BusKill as an official contrib package for QubesOS.

About BusKill

BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It's a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.

Watch the BusKill Explainer Video for more info youtube.com/v/qPwyoD_cQR4

If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys

thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.

About NovaCustom

In Mar 2015, Wessel klein Snakenborg (founder of NovaCustom) started selling highly-customizable Linux laptops from Europe.

In Aug 2021, NovaCustom released their first laptop (NV40) with coreboot pre-installed with Dasharo.

NovaCustom offers anti-tamper options, including glitter nail polish applied to the chassis screws (photos sent to you via Proton Mail before shipment — specify PGP key at checkout for e2ee)

Since 2023, NovaCustom has been a leader in hardware security:

• In Apr 2023, NovaCustom started offering Intel ME disabling
• In May 2023, NovaCustom demonstrated their commitment to free software and the security community by obtaining Qubes certification on their NV41 Series laptop.
• In Sep 2023, NovaCustom started offering anti-interdiction services, which includes applying a unique glitter pattern to your new laptop's chassis screws before shipment. This was inspired by Michael Altfield's article about Trusted Boot,
• In Feb 2024, NovaCustom started selling their NV41 laptop with Heads pre-installed
• In Sep 2024, NovaCustom's V56 laptop became Qubes Certified
• In Nov 2024, NovaCustom partnered with BusKill to bundle their security laptops with BusKill Kits, including the option to purchase BusKill Kits in-person (with cash) at their brick-and-mortar office in The Netherlands
• In Feb 2025, NovaCustom's V54 laptop became Qubes Certified
• In Mar 2026, NovaCustom donated $200 to BusKill, for packaging and documenting BusKill in apt, making it easier (and safer) to install BusKill on Debian-based Linux distros

And now, in Apr 2026, NovaCustom is further working to increase the accessibility of BusKill to QubesOS users, by sponsoring the submission of an official QubesOS contrib package.

Funding Available

If you'd like to claim this bounty for yourself, please

1. Read the details of the bounty, and then
2. Submit a proposal by commenting on this GitHub issue

Claim Bounty

opencollective.com/buskill/projects/qubes-package

Moreover, if you're a QubesOS user and you'd like to donate additional funds in support of this bounty, you can do so here.

• opencollective.com/buskill

Stay safe,

The BusKill Team
https://www.buskill.in/
http://www.buskillvampfih2iucxhit3qp36i2zzql3u6pmkeafvlxs3tlmot5yad.onion/

We’re happy to announce that BusKill can be installed on Linux directly with apt

What is BusKill?

BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It's a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.

Watch the BusKill Explainer Video for more info youtube.com/v/qPwyoD_cQR4

If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys -- thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.

Debian

BusKill can be installed on Debian with apt.

To install BusKill in Debian, execute su - and then apt install buskill

To install BusKill on Debian, execute the command

su -
apt install buskill

Read the full article here:

• https://www.buskill.in/apt-debian-install/

Support BusKill

We're looking forward to continuing to improve the BusKill software and looking for other avenues to distribute our hardware BusKill cable to make it more accessible this year.

If you want to help, please consider purchasing a BusKill cable for yourself or a loved one. It helps us fund further development, and you get your own BusKill cable to keep you or your loved ones safe.

Buy a BusKill Cable
https://buskill.in/buy

You can also buy a BusKill cable with bitcoin, monero, and other altcoins from our BusKill Store's .onion site.

Stay safe,
The BusKill Team
https://www.buskill.in/
http://www.buskillvampfih2iucxhit3qp36i2zzql3u6pmkeafvlxs3tlmot5yad.onion/

🇫🇷 Version française de cette vidéo

We're very happy to share samxplogs' Cross-Platform Video Demos of the BusKill Kit.

Can't see video above? Watch it on PeerTube or on YouTube at youtu.be/jT9Fgwrbp6o

Disclaimer: While we gave samxplogs a free BusKill Kit for review, we did not pay them nor restrict their impartiality and freedom to publish an independent review. We did require them to make the video open-source as a condition of receiving this free review unit. The above video is licensed CC BY-SA; you are free to redistribute it. If you are a video producer and would like a free BusKill Kit for review, please contact us

What is BusKill?

BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It's a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.

Watch the BusKill Explainer Video for more info on PeerTube or youtube.com/v/qPwyoD_cQR4

If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys -- thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.

Support BusKill

We're looking forward to continuing to improve the BusKill software and looking for other avenues to distribute our hardware BusKill cable to make it more accessible this year.

If you want to help, please consider purchasing a BusKill cable for yourself or a loved one. It helps us fund further development, and you get your own BusKill cable to keep you or your loved ones safe.

Buy a BusKill Cable
https://buskill.in/buy

You can also buy a BusKill cable with bitcoin, monero, and other altcoins from our BusKill Store's .onion site.

Stay safe,
The BusKill Team
https://www.buskill.in/
http://www.buskillvampfih2iucxhit3qp36i2zzql3u6pmkeafvlxs3tlmot5yad.onion/

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/63422484

Google alert: CAD files and build playlist are hosted on google services

https://www.powercircuits.nl/home/open-source-tadpole-tilting-cargo-trike

Fully Built, Open Source Design

This is an image of the final build. It looks cool and it's great to ride (but still needs a few improvements).

The build videos playlist: https://yewtu.be/playlist?list=PL3uwHLwN7YKrodkpyXISvayLdFsccHNWB&si=lt0YrWmcryd8LzgT

CAD drawings - v7 - Feb-2026

There is a donation button on the source page as well

https://github.com/tommybee456/OpenSplitDeck

Happy 2026! The BusKill project published our Annual Report for the progress we made last year.

What is BusKill?

BusKill is a laptop kill-cord. It's a USB cable with a magnetic breakaway that you attach to your body and connect to your computer.

Watch the BusKill Explainer Video for more info youtube.com/v/qPwyoD_cQR4

If the connection between you to your computer is severed, then your device will lock, shutdown, or shred its encryption keys -- thus keeping your encrypted data safe from thieves that steal your device.

Executive Summary

• First Annual Report
• Video documentation
• Futo Grant Recipient

In 2025, we're changing from a twice-yearly Warrant Canary to a once-yearly-canary plus a new once-yearly-annual-report.

In 2025, we published two video to help spread awareness, provide a clear demo, and show how to use BusKill.

And in 2025, we were awarded a grant from Futo.

Happy New Year!

We're looking forward to continuing to improve the BusKill software and looking for other avenues to distribute our hardware BusKill cable to make it more accessible this year.

If you want to help, please consider purchasing a BusKill cable for yourself or a loved one. It helps us fund further development, and you get your own BusKill cable to keep you or your loved ones safe.

Buy a BusKill Cable
https://buskill.in/buy

You can also buy a BusKill cable with bitcoin, monero, and other altcoins from our BusKill Store's .onion site.

Stay safe,
The BusKill Team
https://www.buskill.in/
http://www.buskillvampfih2iucxhit3qp36i2zzql3u6pmkeafvlxs3tlmot5yad.onion/