Vintage fun: Prodding AI agents using retro hardware just because you can
'It helps me stretch what I can do in the current age of AI coding, and keeps my curiosity alive'
In a rather whimsical endeavor, AWS developer advocate Darko Mesaroš has repurposed vintage technology to interact with AI agents. He connected a teletype to a modern command-line interface, using a DECwriter and fanfold paper or a computer from the 1970s. Mesaroš's project involved AWS Kiro, a Command Line Interface (CLI) and agentic coding service.
The main challenges were getting data to and from the teletype and formatting the output for compatibility with older hardware. He utilized Hayes modem emulation and Agent Client Protocol (ACP) to address these issues. The project required expertise in Rust, containerization, ACP, and creative problem-solving. While the project might be deemed pointless from a technical standpoint, it offers valuable educational insights into the workings of ACP and debugging serial connections.
Mesaroš collects vintage hardware, including Commodore 64s, a 1974 Data General Eclipse minicomputer, and a Sun system. Accessing AI agents via serial using an old device, such as the teletype, provides a novel way to explore ACP and enhances his curiosity in the current age of AI coding.
Written by urgent.news from The Register's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
