Hacker miraculously gets an Intel 4004 to run Linux, takes about five days to boot

Hacker runs Linux on Intel 4004, takes five days to boot. Dmitry Grinberg uses custom hardware and MIPS emulator.

: Dmitry Grinberg achieved the feat of running a stripped-down Linux version on Intel's 1971 4004 chip. The boot process took about five days. He employed a MIPS R3000 emulator and specially designed hardware to make it happen. The setup is meant to be an art piece, showing Linux commands over days or weeks.

Dmitry Grinberg, a notable hacker, successfully ran a stripped-down version of Linux on a 4-bit Intel 4004 chip from 1971. This challenging task was notable for its unique approach and creative thinking.

Grinberg utilized a very basic MIPS R3000 emulator on the Intel 4004 chip to achieve his goal. The Intel 4004, originally designed for calculators, was not meant to handle such complex operations.

Using vintage components and custom hardware, Grinberg designed a circuit board to display a barebones Debian distro booting up. The entire process, which took about five days, demonstrates a remarkable blend of software and hardware emulation, serving as an artistic and technological feat.

Linux on 4004Dmitry Grinbergtech modding