[NTLK] RFC: project ideas for 2026

[Matthias Melcher]

Hi Newton fans,

spring is close, and with it some new energy, and maybe a new Newton project.

Please help me find the next worthy project that would be the most useful to the community, or even to new users. So here is my list:

== experimental ==

1: AI: feed a local AI with all documentation we can find a see if we can get a specialized LLM running for Newton questions. I tried this with a small subset, and while it generally works, I am not sure how useful this is. It requires a 128GB RAM PC with public access somewhere dedicated to this.

== emulation ==

2: Einstein: the emulator still works fine, but it could use a general overhaul to modern C++ and maybe new minor features. All in all though, it's a pretty complete app. It's a lot of work for relatively little visible gain.

3: Einstein on Android: the old Android apk works, but it is no longer maintainable or upgradable. A second attempt is about 30% done. It runs on Android based E-Paper devices. Again, a lot of work, and only useful if there will be active users.

== connecting apps =

4: NCX: NCX mostly works. We have access to the source code and I managed to recompile it on modern macOS. Question is, is current NTX good enough for everyone? Does it need (a:) small fixes? (b:) Major fixes? Or (c:), a rewrite that runs on Linux and Windows as well?

== hardware ==

5: E-Paper display retrofit: I did find an e-Paper touch display that could work with existing MP2x00 and eMates. It would replce the existing display, have fantatsic contrast, but no backlight and just touch (no pen interface). Not sure if there is anyone ready to modify their machines, or if using a modern e-Paper device with Einstein ist better.

6: Wifi Modem Card: Based on Jake Bordens awesome ESP32 board, we could create an internalboard for the modem port that combines the USB dongle functionality with modern Wifi and possibly even bluetooth. This is again one of those projects that is 80% there, but the remaining 20% need so much more time. 

== Newton apps development ==

7: Despite adding a compiler to Einstein, I have not seen new apps for NewtonOS. Not complaining, since I have not written one myself either, but the question is, does it make any sense to invest time into a: improving the Einstein Toolkit, or b: documenting NTK with BasiliskII and Einstein?

8: In a similar quest, I managed to get Simon Bell's Newton Toolkit to cimpile, and also to decompile Newton apps (i.e. take a .pkg file, decompile it into NS source code, recompile it into a package, and get the same app). Again, 80% there, still 20% to go, but only if anyone needs that.

== far out there ==

9. On the quest to recreate the ROM source code, Simon Bell's code is maybe 30% there. We could continue his work and end up with the entire OS recreated. But this is an extraordinary amount of work, and would require three or more dedicated devs who understand ARM assembler and write C++ and it would still take many months.

10. Write an interface (similar to WINE that runs Windows apps on macOS and Linux). This is basically like 9, but starting at the other end. We take one Newton app pkg that we really love, and the write the interface layer until the app runs native. We could probably get simple stuff running in half a year, but probably never reach a perfect NewtonOS that runs everything.


So, wow, if you made it all the way through my ramblings, if you like, please comment on the project ideas, so I can find out what's useful. If you have addition project ideas, please add them to this mail thread.

Happy tapping,

 - Matthias