[NTLK] Einstein and newton-re roadmap ideas

[Matthias Melcher]

> On 24. Oct 2026, at 15:40, Eckhart Köppen <eck at 40hz.org> wrote:
> 
> On Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:42:56 +0200, Matthias Melcher wrote:
> 
>> Please take a look at `newtc` and `VSNewt`. They are based on 
>> newton-framework and implement DAP already. It doesn't matter much if 
>> `newtc` uses newton-framework or newton-re.
> 
> Saw and admired :) That's the way to go. For the DAP, I was more 
> thinking about having a better debug experience for NewtonOS itself, 
> and being able to hook up an agent to a live running Newton.

'newtc' works with physical devices and Einstein. Just as with the NTK Toolbox, you install a small tool on the MessaePad. newtc connects to it. Then in VSCode, you can compile apps and run them on the MessagePad. newtc compiles, uploads, and manages breakpoints and data views. 

I have not tried single stepping through the ROM, but if the NewtonScript interpreter supports that, newtc can do it too.

> Now what comes to the museum, what's your feel how to treat it? I would 
> still have use for it, but should I venture out on my own? Would the 
> simplification diverge too much from the spirit? I could see it 
> continue either way.

With usability becoming less of a focus - newton-re takes over that part - Einstein could be changed to be closer to the original machines. We could, for example, add a MessagePad case around the Newton screen to give more of a device feel. No more custom screen resolutions, but as close to the original as possible. I'd keep PCMCIA card support, but make them more visual maybe. Monitor and Toolbox would go. A new flash could be pre-installed with all ROM updates and NIE. Users would still need to find the ROM file unfortunately.

So Einstein would be as original as possible, newton-re could be as customizable as needed.

Einstein Monitor is no longer needed: we have the source code now.

Einstein Toolbox is no longer needed: newtc does the same much better and prefessionally on VSCode

Screen scaling is no longer needed: newt-re does that in a more usable way

Einstein would be limited to run only packages that would also run on a physical MessagePad or eMate, and that would be a very good thing :-)

Just thinking out aloud here... .

> Continuing 
> Einstein even in a simplified form on the other hand maybe gives it the 
> attention and credit it deserves? But it will not be what it is today, 
> a platform for daily use. That's for newton-re in the future.

Yes, and newton-re seems to catch up to what Einstein currently does very quickly.

 - Matthias