Ask HN: What is the most powerful, fully open, fully programmable computer?
I'd like to write a software stack from scratch, starting from low level assembly to explore alternative and novel avenues for computing.
I'm looking for some hardware that comes with as many modern features such as multiple cores, USB, PCI, etc., and with datasheets and open specs for all components of the board, that are reasonably possible for a single person to grok.
That cuts out all modern x86 and ARM systems (you need a lifetime just to program a single GPU driver), RISC-V boards still depend on binary blobs and underdocumented auxiliary chips.
Without going as far down to a Z80 microcomputer, what is the most powerful and programmable computer I can plug a keyboard and monitor to, and start hacking?
I'm looking for some hardware that comes with as many modern features such as multiple cores, USB, PCI, etc., and with datasheets and open specs for all components of the board, that are reasonably possible for a single person to grok.
That cuts out all modern x86 and ARM systems (you need a lifetime just to program a single GPU driver), RISC-V boards still depend on binary blobs and underdocumented auxiliary chips.
Without going as far down to a Z80 microcomputer, what is the most powerful and programmable computer I can plug a keyboard and monitor to, and start hacking?