The VIC-20 wasn't the most powerful machine on the block. It was the first computer to put a usable, inexpensive microcomputer into millions of homes. This article tears open the hardware and software of the VIC-20, explains the engineering compromises, and shows how severe constraints sculpted creative programming techniques that still inspire retrohackers today.
How a $300 plastic keyboard and 5KB of RAM forced elegant design, seeded an ethic of accessibility, and still whispers in the ears of modern indies. From PICO-8 jams to Celeste's origins, the VIC-20's constraints shape today's aesthetics, UX, and development practices.
The Commodore VIC-20 has quietly re-entered the cultural conversation. This post explores why 2023 saw renewed interest in the VIC-20 and other vintage systems - from nostalgia and preservation to new generations learning to code on 8‑bit hardware - and how that energy is shaping a fresh wave of homebrew games and hardware projects.