Retrospective of RetroChallenge 2024

The period for RetroChallenge 2024 concluded on October 31. This project, which explores the combination of retro computing and modern AI, considers this pairing to be both unique and challenging. Although this project didn’t reach its initial goal, I’d like to summarize my progress here.

The project achieved the following milestones:

Completed Items:

• Verification of MIDI hardware functionality
• Creation of a MIDI file parser in Python
• Development of a MIDI player program (Z80 assembly) on actual CP/M and SCM machines to play MIDI files (requires pre-conversion of songs using the Python program)
• Development of a MIDI parser (Z80 assembly) for CP/M

Incomplete Items:

• Creation of a MIDI player (Z80 assembly) on CP/M, program to directly read MIDI files was not completed.

Insights and Know-how Gained:

• Techniques for creating Z80 programs using ChatGPT
• Review methodologies for Z80 programs with ChatGPT
• Effective debugging methods using the ASM80.com online assembler and simulator
• A library of CP/M and Z80 subroutines developed with ChatGPT

Through this challenge, I found that creating ready-to-use programs with ChatGPT is challenging. It was most efficient to create small subroutines and combine them into a program, which I believe is the most valuable takeaway from this challenge.

In summary, I believe the project reached about 80% completion. I am particularly eager to continue developing the MIDI player that runs on an actual CP/M machine.

(Still) To be continued…