This is a continuing project (in progress) - I'm still adding information to the databases. Also, this is a background priority for me - I'm only working on this project in between other stuff.
Each of the following databases represents a collection of magazine articles related to the computer or software indicated:
| Arduino.zip | Status: Just Started; | Records: 113; | Last Update: 2023/11/28. |
| CoCo.zip | Status: Stable; | Records: 3,677; | Last Update: 2021/07/17. |
| Forth.zip | Status: 85% complete; | Records: 761; | Last Update: 2021/02/14. |
| FPGA.zip | Status: Just Started; | Records: 2; | Last Update: 2021/02/17. |
| Linux.zip | Status: Just Started; | Records: 4; | Last Update: 2021/02/23. |
| RPi.zip | Status: Current; | Records: 2,745; | Last Update: 2024/07/06. |
| General.zip | Status: Just Started; | Records: 244; | Last Update: 2021/05/03. |
In all of these cases, the database is NOT (and never will be) a comprehensive index. These are my personal databases, and they only catalog articles which are of personal interest to me.
HOWEVER, they could be useful to you as a foundation upon which to build your own personal databases; by adding entries for articles which are of personal interest to YOU. You can add to them, subtract from them, or change them however you see fit.
Also, since my interests are somewhat eclectic, you may find that a good portion of what interests you has already been cataloged.
Naturally, as in any project of this magnitude, errors and omissions are bound to occur. If you come across any, I'd appreciate your letting me know about them so I can make suitable corrections.
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Sections of this page:
Database Design
Idiosyncrasies
Categories
Column Names and Other Abbreviations
Magazine Source Locations
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Coverage:
Arduino.zip primarily covers Academia, Elektor Magazine, Full Circle Magazine, Make Magazine, and micro:mag; along with some entries from the RPi database.
CoCo.zip primarily covers CoCo~123, CoCo Friends Disk magazine, Color Computer Magazine, Gamers Connection, Hot CoCo,
The Rainbow, and parts of 80 Micro; with bits and pieces of Byte Magazine, Creative Computing, Dr. Dobb's Journal,
and Forth Dimensions.
Forth.zip primarily covers FORML, Forth Dimensions, and the Rochester Conferences (JFAR).
FPGA.zip primarily covers Embedded Magazine and the Xcell Journal.
Linux.zip primarily covers the Linux Journal, and SysAdmin Magazine.
RPi.zip primarily covers Custom PC, HackSpace, Hello World, The MagPi, and WireFrame.
General.zip primarily covers 80 Micro, Byte Magazine, C++ Users Journal, Creative Computing, Dr. Dobb's Journal, and The Perl Journal.
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Status Indicators:Just Started - The skeleton and backbone of the database are complete, but little or no data has been entered yet.
Current - Some or all of the magazines are in current production. All issues up to the "Last Update" date have been cataloged.
Stable - All of the magazines (with minor exceptions) have ceased production. Essentially all issues have been cataloged.
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The databases are all Microsoft Access 2010 databases. You will generally need a copy of Microsoft Access in order to use these databases. If you get or have a newer (than 2010) copy of Access, it may translate the database into its own format - this is normal. If you have a copy of Microsoft Access which is older than 2010, it will not be able to use these databases.
For your convenience, a .csv text version is also included in packages which have a significant percentage of completion.
If you just want to look at the database entries without changing anything, just open the .csv file in Notebook, LeafPad, or some other text viewer. MS Excel also works with the .csv files. Other spreadsheets may as well. I have not had good results with the free Microsoft Access Viewer.
If you wish, you could also use the Access To MySQL conversion tool, or the Access To SQLite conversion tool, or something similar for whichever DBMS (Data Base Management System) you have. I have not tested any of these; proceed at your own risk.
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I have a Masters Degree in Computer Science and, over the years, I've built many commercial, industrial, and governmental quality databases in MS Access, MySQL, SQlite, MS SQL Server, postgreSQL, Oracle, and DB2. I know all the rules of proper database design and normalization...
For this project, I've chosen to ignore most of those rules.
What I need (and what I suspect you might yourselves prefer) is a simple system which is easy to use and easy to maintain.
Each database consists of one table and five queries. The Table Fields are:
| ID | AutoNumber | Long Integer |
| ArticleName | Text | 255 |
| Category1 | Text | 255 |
| Category2 | Text | 255 |
| Magazine | Text | 255 |
| Volume | Number | Long Integer |
| Number | Number | Long Integer |
| Page | Number | Long Integer |
| MagMonth | Number | Long Integer |
| MagYear | Number | Long Integer |
| Comment | Memo | -- |
The five queries are:
ArticleNameSearch - Selects records whose ArticleName Field contains a word or phrase you specify.
Category1Query - The entire table in Category1 order.
Category2Query - The entire table in Category2 order.
CommentQuery - Selects records whose Comment Field contains a word or phrase you specify.
MagOrderQuery - The entire table in Magazine Name order.
You'll note that the tables don't include fields for Author Name, Publisher, Address, etc., etc. If I need any of that information, I'll simply look it up in the magazine issue in question.
You'll also note that, except for the ArticleNameSearch and the CommentQuery, the queries don't isolate any records. I simply scan down the list until I come to the entry I'm looking for: they're all in alphanumeric order at that point.
For example, if I'm looking for articles about Mathematics, I'll do a Category1Query and scan down the list until I come to the "Math" entries in the Category1 Field. Then, I'll do a Category2Query and scan down the list until I come to the "Math" entries in the Category2 Field.
One of the costs of the simplicity of these databases is the need to check both category fields, because a given entry may appear in either field. For example, for one record, Category1 may be "Math" and Category2 may be "CoCo". Yet, for another record, Category1 may be "Assembly" and Category2 may be "Math".
Occasionally, a record will require more than two categories. When it does, I simply commit the cardinal sin of duplicating the record, resulting in (OH! The HORROR of it all!) two records containing the same data. In formal database work, this is bad because if something needs to be changed, you might change it in one record and forget to change it in the other. This project is not that mission-critical. I'll simply fix any such errors when and if I come across them.
In a similar fashion, it would be formally correct to provide a separate table of category entries to minimize the possibility of spelling errors. Built-in traps for such errors on entry would also be provided. In this project, such errors will simply appear out of order in the Category queries and will then be corrected forthwith. (For a list of the Categories I use, see below).
What appears in the ArticleName Fields of the databases does not always match the actual article name in the publication: I use whatever wording will be clearest and easiest to understand, and which will do the best job of directing me to the articles I'm looking for.
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Some magazines are identified by month and year, but not by volume and number. Conversely, some are identified by volume and number, but not by month and year. Some magazines (especially in the HTML only collections) do not specify page numbers. Wherever Volume, Number, Page, MagMonth, or MagYear data is missing or unavailable, I either insert the value 0 (zero), or I leave the field blank.
Some magazines are published quarterly rather than monthly. For such, I use "month" numbers: Spring = 13, Summer = 14, Fall = 15, and Winter = 16.
Some MC6809 articles are included in the CoCo.zip database even where the MC6809 is not in a CoCo.
Generally, Micro:Bit articles and other microcontroller articles are included in the Arduino.zip database.
Generally, UNIX and XENIX articles are included in the Linux.zip database.
FYI: Some of the items which I specifically do NOT try to index are articles specific to Apple, AIX, C# (because I just don't like it), Cisco, Flash (because it's a security risk), Fortran, Java (because it's a security risk), Oracle, Palm and Palm OS, Pocket PC, Red Hat, Solaris, Sun Systems, Windows CE, and Y2K (because that concern is SO over).
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3DPrint = 3D Printers and Printing
Adventure = Adventure Games (Usually Text-Only)
AdventureDesign
AdventureGraphic = Adventure Games with Graphics
AI = Artificial Intelligence
Algorithms
Arcade = Arcade Games
Arduino = Arduino, Micro:Bit, and other microcontroller Articles outside of the Arduino.zip database
Assembly = Assembly, Disassembly, and Machine Language
Astronomy
Audio = Speech and organized sounds, other than Music
Backup
BASH = Bourne Again Shell (Linux)
BASIC = The BASIC Programming Language
BDS = BDS Software Articles
Benchmarks
Bluetooth = Short-range wireless technology
Business
ButtonsAndSwitches = Buttons and Switches (Mostly in the Arduino and RPi databases)
C = The C Programming Language
C# = The C# Programming Language (Only where absolutely necessary - Boo! Hiss!)
C++ = The C++ Programming Language
CAD = Computer-Aided Design
Case = Case Statements in Forth
CF83 = BDS Software's 83-Standard Forth for the Color Computer
Chess
CircuitPython = The CircuitPython Programming Language
Classes = Classes, Objects, etc.
Client/Server = Client/Server Models and Operations
Clocks
Cluster = Computer Clusters, e.g. a cluster of eight interconnected Raspberry Pi 4 computers
CoCo = Color Computer Articles outside of the CoCo.zip database
CommandLine
Communications = Serial, Parallel, SSH, etc.
Compilers = Compilers and Decompilers
Compression = Data Compression and Decompression
ControlStructures
Corrections
Cryptography
Database
DataStructures
Debian = The Flavor of Linux I Use
Debugging
Documentation - Guides, Manuals, and other files describing a piece of hardware or software
DragonsByte = A Fantasy Game Column
Editor = Text Editors, IDEs, etc.
Education
Electronics
Email = Email Systems
Embedded = Embedded Systems
Emulator = Emulators and Simulators, etc.
Encryption = Encryption and Security
Execution = Execution Mechanisms in Forth
ExternalDevices = Resistors, Capacitors, Controllers, etc.
Files
Filters
Fonts
Forth = Forth Articles outside of the Forth.zip database
FPGA = Field Programmable Gate Array Articles outside of the FPGA.zip database
FRP = Fantasy Role Playing
FSM = Finite State Machines
Game
GameBBS = Games on Bulletin Board Systems
GameDesign
GameHelp = Helps for Gameplay
GIS = Geographical Information Systems
GMApprentice = Game Master's Apprentice, A Fantasy Game Column
Graphics
GTK = A widget toolkit for creating GUIs
GUI = Graphical User Interfaces
Hardware
HATs = Hardware Attached on Top (Mostly for RPi)
Hints = Hints, Tips, and Tricks
HomeSystems = Lighting control, security camera access, etc.
I/O
IDE = Integrated Development Environment
Images
Internal = System Internals
Interrupts
IoT = Internet of Things
JavaScript
KJV = BDS Software's King James Version of the Bible on Color Computer Disks
Languages = Programming Dialects and Languages other than Assembly, BASIC, C, C#, C++, CircuitPython, plain Forth, JavaScript, MicroPython, PygameZero, Python, or Scratch
LaserCutting = Laser Cutting and Laser Cutters
LEDs = Light-Emitting Diodes
LEGODevices = LEGO electronic bricks, pieces, etc.
Linux = Linux, UNIX, and Xenix Articles outside of the Linux.zip database
Logic = Electronic logic devices such as gates; generally a Semiconductor Device (not a Memory Device) having the primary function of computing and/or otherwise processing instructions
Maint = Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
Make = Make and Makefile Software Tools
Math
Memory
MicroBit = The timy BBC micro:bit microcontroller
MicroPython = The MicroPython Programming Language
Misc = Miscellaneous Articles, not otherwise classifiable
Motors
Music
Network = Nets and Networking
NitrOS-9 = A CoCo3 Operating System
OpSys = Operating Systems other than Linux
Optimize = Optimization
OS9 = The OS/9 Operating System, primarily as for the Color Computer
PCBs = Printed Circuit Boards
Photography
Physics
Pico = The Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico W microcontrollers
PowerSupply = Power Supply (generally as stepped-down from 125 VAC)
Print = Printers and Printing
Programming = General Programming
Publish = Desktop Publishing
Puzzle
PuzzleDesign
PygameZero = The PygameZero Game Design Programming Language
Python
R&C = Received and Certified
Radio
Random = Random Numbers and Generators
Recursion
Retro = Devices and Systems which are imitative of a style, fashion, or design from the recent past
Review = Software and other product reviews
Robotics
Rocketry = Amateur and Model Rocketry
RPi = Raspberry Pi Articles outside of the RPi.zip database
Science = Science, Engineering, etc.
Scratch = The Scratch Block-Style Programming Language
Searching
Security
Sensors
Serial = RS-232 and other Serial Port Devices and Circuits
Simulation = Software Simulations (e.g. Games that model reality)
SimulationDesign
Sorting
Sound = Sound Effects (e.g. disorganized sounds)
Sports
Spreadsheets
Stacks = Stacks in Forth
Statistics = Probability and Statistics
Storage
StringProcessing = String and Text Processing
Strings
Subroutine = Subroutines, Functions, Macros, and Modules, etc.
SysAdmin = Systems Administration
Tkinter
Tools = Tools other than Makefile Tools
USB
Utility
Variables
VersionControl
Video
Weather = Weather Stations and Related Hardware and Software
Web = The Web, HTML, the Internet, Intranets, etc.
WiFi = Wireless Networking
WordP = Word Processors
Words = Forth Colon Definitions, i.e. Words
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In the ArticleName Fields of these databases, in order to save typing time and effort, I use various abbreviations for recurring magazine column names and often reappearing words and phrases. These abbreviations are:
16S - 16-Bit Software Toolbox; Dr. Dobb's Journal
AA - Algorithm Alley; Dr. Dobb's Journal
AB - Ask Byte (Not Ciarcia); Byte Magazine
ABC - Ask Byte (Ciarcia); Byte Magazine
AC - Assembly Corner; Rainbow Magazine
AL - Assembly Line; 80 Micro Magazine
ALG - Algorithma: A Monthly Algorithms Column; Dr. Dobb's Journal
AOP - Art of Programming; 80 Micro Magazine
ATD - Ask The Doctor; Forth Dimensions
ATF - At The Forge; Linux Journal
BB - Basic Beat; Hot CoCo
BD - Beyond DOS; Byte Magazine
BOB - Best Of Bix; Byte Magazine
BS - Basically Speaking; Rainbow Magazine
BT - Basic Training; Rainbow Magazine
BTA - Basic Takes; 80 Micro Magazine
CC - CoCo Consultations; Rainbow Magazine
CCA - C Cave; MagPi Magazine
CCC - Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar; Byte Magazine
CCF - Circuit Cellar Feedback; Byte Magazine
CCH - C Chest; Dr. Dobb's Journal
CLC - Command Line Clinic; MagPi Magazine
CLP - Command Line Pi; MagPi Magazine
CM - Copernica Mathematica; 80 Micro Magazine
CP - C Programming; Dr. Dobb's Journal
CS - C#; MagPi Magazine
CUP - C/UNIX Programmer's Notebook; Dr. Dobb's Journal
CWL - Cooking With Linux; Linux Journal
DA - Dr. ASCII; Rainbow Magazine and Hot CoCo
DB - Debian; MagPi Magazine
DC - Doctor C's Pointers; C/C++ User's Journal
DS - Data Structures; Byte Magazine
EA - Elmer's Arcade; Hot CoCo
EC - Effective Concurrency; Dr. Dobb's Journal
ECB - Extended Color BASIC (CoCo)
EE - Everyday Engineering; Mag Pi Magazine
EMBS - Embedded Spaces; Dr. Dobb's Journal
ER - Examining Room; Dr. Dobb's Journal
ES - External Storage; MagPi Magazine
ESG - Economy Size Geek; Linux Journal
FB - Fuze Basic; MagPi Magazine
FH - Fun House; 80 Micro Magazine
FOA - Focus On Algorithms; Byte Magazine
FRP - Fantasy Role Playing; Rainbow Magazine
GA - Gamemaster's Apprentice; Rainbow Magazine
GRP - Graphics Programming; Dr. Dobb's Journal
GS - Graphically Speaking; Hot CoCo
GWP - Games We Play; Linux Journal
GYG - Get Your Game On; Linux Journal
HAS - Hack And /; Linux Journal
HRD - Hacking the Raspberry Desktop; MagPi Magazine
HTC - How To Do It In C; C/C++ User's Journal
HTS - How To Solve It; Creative Computing
IC - In Control; MagPi Magazine
ICG - Intelligent Computer Games; Creative Computing
KK - Kernel Korner; Linux Journal
LAB - Letters and Ask Byte; Byte Magazine
LI - Lego Interface; MagPi Magazine
LP - Logi Pi; MagPi Magazine
LPH - Linux Programming Hints; Linux Journal
LSA - Linux System Administration; Linux Journal
MGP - Make Games With Python; MagPi Magazine
MR - Mathematical Recreations; Byte Magazine
NCPP - The New C++; Dr. Dobb's Journal
NN - Novice's Niche; Rainbow Magazine
OHL - OS-9 Hotline; Rainbow Magazine
OOF - Object-Oriented Forth
PARP - Paranoid Penguin; Linux Journal
PB - PiBot; MagPi Magazine
PC - Pi Lite = Physical Computing; MagPi Magazine
PP - Python Pit; MagPi Magazine
PPF - Puzzles and Problems for Fun; Creative Computing
PPP - Programming Pastimes and Pleasures; Dr. Dobb's Journal
PRP - Programming Paradigms; Dr. Dobb's Journal
PRT - Programmer's ToolChest - Dr. Dobb's Journal
PS - Packet Sniffing; MagPi Magazine
PT Programming Techniques; Creative Computing
PT3 - Programming Tips, Tricks, and Traps; Rainbow Magazine
PW - Programmers Workbench; Dr. Dobb's Journal
QA - Questions and Answers; C/C++ User's Journal
RF - Reader's Forum; Hot CoCo
RSM - Remote Sensor Monitoring; MagPi Magazine
RWA - Real World Applications; Hot CoCo
SAR - Some Assembly Required; Byte Magazine
SB - Soft Bits, 80 Micro Magazine
SC - Software Corner; Byte Magazine
SK - Skutter; MagPi Magazine
SP - Scratch Patch; MagPi Magazine
SPR - Short Programs; Creative Computing
STC - Standard C; C/C++ User's Journal
STP - Structured Programming; Dr. Dobb's Journal
TAL - The Assembly Line; Rainbow Magazine
TC - Take Command; Linux Journal
TCE - The Cutting Edge; Linux Journal
TL - Topics In Logic; Creative Computing
TOTS - Turn Of The Screw; Rainbow Magazine
TQA - Technical Questions and Answers; Rainbow Magazinw
TSC - Thinking Strategies with the Computer; Creative Computing
TT - Tech Tips; Dr. Dobb's Journal
TTGV - Tech Tips with Gnull and Voyd; Linux Journal
UB - Unix /bin; Byte Magazine
UC - Undocumented Corner; Dr. Dobb's Journal
UE - UNIX Exchange; Dr. Dobb's Journal
UTH - Under The Hood; Byte Magazine
WG - What's GNU?; Linux Journal
WTS - Work The Shell; Linux Journal
* - In Comments Field = an article of special interest to me
** - In Comments Field = an article of particularly special interest to me
*** - In Comments Field = an article of great special interest to me
**** - In Comments Field = an article of exceeding special interest to me
***** - In Comments Field = an article of most special interest to me
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Downsizing is a way of life at my age: I can't devote room in the house to a magazine collection. Therefore, except where otherwise indicated, I'm only cataloging articles from computer magazines which are available free and online. Also except where otherwise indicated, the magazines are all downloadable .pdf files. The magazine source locations are:
80 Micro Magazine
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Academia Arduino Articles
--- https://www.academia.edu/people/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=Arduino
Byte Magazine
--- https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine?&sort=date
C/C++ Users Journal
--- https://collaboration.cmc.ec.gc.ca/science/rpn/biblio/ddj/Website/forms/left.htm - HTML Only.
As of 2021/07/20, this link appears to be defunct. Another source might be: http://ftp.math.utah.edu/pub/tex/bib/toc/cccuj.html
CoCo~123
--- Back Issues http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
--- Current Issues http://www.glensideccc.com/
CoCo Friends Disk Magazine (CFDM)
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Color Computer Magazine
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Custom PC
--- https://custompc.raspberrypi.com/issues
As of 2023/11/28, publication of Custom PC has been discontinued,
and this site has converted to the display of web articles only.
The site appears to no longer provide any links to past issues.
I have also not been able to find any back issues on the Internet Archive.
Creative Computing
--- https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing?&sort=date
Dr. Dobb's Journal
--- 1976-1990: https://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22People%27s+Computer+Company%22&sort=-date
--- 1988-2008: https://collaboration.cmc.ec.gc.ca/science/rpn/biblio/ddj/Website/forms/left.htm - HTML Only.
As of 2021/07/20, this link appears to be defunct. I have not as yet discovered any viable alternate link.
To use this latter site, you must have a free account. But the account signup wasn't working as of 2019/03/31. But if you establish an account at InfoWeek that account seems to work on the Dr. Dobb's site as well.
Elektor Magazine Arduino Articles
--- https://www.elektormagazine.com/tags/arduino
Embedded Magazine
--- https://www.xilinx.com/publications/archives/magazines/emb01.pdf and emb02.pdf, emb03.pdf, & emb05.pdf
Forth Dimensions
--- https://archive.org/details/forthdimension
Forth Modification Laboratory (FORML) Conference Proceedings
--- These are not available online. I'm obtaining copies from various libraries via InterLibrary Loans. Progress has been rather slow due to Covid and Libraries' reluctance to provide interlibrary loans during this period.
Full Circle Magazine Arduino Articles
--- https://fullcirclemagazine.org/tag/arduino/
Gamers Connection
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Hackspace
--- https://hackspace.raspberrypi.org/issues
Hello World Magazine
--- https://helloworld.raspberrypi.org/issues
Hot CoCo
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
Journal of Forth Application and Research (JFAR), i.e. The Rochester Conferences
--- https://www.forth.com/forth-books/jfar-archives/
Linux Journal (Complete Run)
--- 1994/03-2005/03: https://archive.org/download/linuxjournalpdfcollection/PDFs/Linux%20Journal%20issues%201-131%20PDFs.tar.xz
--- 2005/04-2019/08: https://archive.org/download/linuxjournalpdfcollection/PDFs/Linux%20Journal%20issues%20132-301%20PDFs.tar.xz
Make Magazine Arduino Articles
--- https://makezine.com/category/technology/arduino/
MagPi Magazine
--- https://www.raspberrypi.org/magpi/issues/
Micro:mag Magazine
--- https://micromag.cc/issues/
Perl Journal
--- https://collaboration.cmc.ec.gc.ca/science/rpn/biblio/ddj/Website/forms/left.htm - HTML Only.
As of 2021/07/20, this link appears to be defunct. I have not as yet discovered any viable alternate link.
Proceedings of the Rochester Forth Applications
--- You'll have to search the web individually - some may be available for download; others may not.
Rainbow Magazine
--- http://www.colorcomputerarchive.com/
SysAdmin
--- https://collaboration.cmc.ec.gc.ca/science/rpn/biblio/ddj/Website/forms/left.htm - HTML Only.
As of 2021/07/20, this link appears to be defunct. I have not as yet discovered any viable alternate link.
WireFrame
--- https://wireframe.raspberrypi.org/issues
As of 2023/11/28, publication of Wireframe has been discontinued,
and this site has converted to the display of web articles only.
The site appears to no longer provide any links to past issues.
But some issues appear to be available by going to the Internet Archive and searching on the term "Wireframe" (without the quotes).
Xcell Journal
--- https://www.xilinx.com/publications/archives/xcell/Xcell1.pdf through Xcell94.pdf