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legacy-circuit-mockups

github/awesome-copilot

Generates breadboard circuit mockups and pinout diagrams for retro electronics like 6502 builds using HTML5 Canvas.

What is legacy-circuit-mockups?

This skill helps an AI agent generate breadboard circuit mockups and visual diagrams using HTML5 Canvas drawing techniques, targeted at retro computing and electronics projects. It includes pinouts, formulas, and color conventions for components like the 6502, 555 timer, EEPROMs, VIAs, 7400-series logic gates, and passives, and is best used when a user requests a circuit layout, breadboard diagram, or vintage electronics mockup.

  • Renders breadboard circuit mockups and diagrams using HTML5 Canvas grid and component drawing patterns
  • Provides pinout references for components like W65C02S, 28C256, W65C22, NE555, and 7400-series gates
  • Supplies step-by-step workflows for building LED, 555 timer, and 6502 microprocessor circuits
  • Includes formulas for resistor sizing, 555 timer frequency/pulse calculations, and capacitor behavior
  • Defines wire and LED color coding conventions for consistent diagram readability
  • Offers a troubleshooting table for common circuit issues

How to install legacy-circuit-mockups

npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill legacy-circuit-mockups
Prerequisites
  • Understanding of component pinouts from bundled reference files
  • Knowledge of breadboard layout conventions (rows, columns, power rails)
Claude Code
Cursor
Windsurf
Cline

How to use legacy-circuit-mockups

  1. 1.Ask the agent to create a breadboard layout, circuit mockup, or schematic for a specific project (e.g., LED circuit, 555 timer blinker, 6502 computer build)
  2. 2.Specify the components involved (e.g., NE555, W65C02S, 28C256, 7400-series gates, LEDs, resistors, capacitors)
  3. 3.Let the agent follow the relevant step-by-step workflow (LED circuit, 555 timer circuit, or 6502 microprocessor layout) to place components and wire connections
  4. 4.Review the generated Canvas-based diagram including grid placement, wire color coding, and labels
  5. 5.Consult bundled reference files (e.g., 555.md, 6502.md, 6522.md) for detailed pinout or spec verification
  6. 6.Use the troubleshooting table to diagnose issues like LEDs not lighting or ICs not powering

Use cases

Good for
  • Mocking up a Ben Eater-style 6502 breadboard computer build with CPU, EEPROM, VIA, and logic ICs
  • Visualizing a 555 timer astable blinker circuit with resistors, capacitor, and LED
  • Creating a simple LED + resistor circuit diagram for an educational tutorial
  • Designing wire connections and power rail layouts for a breadboard prototype
  • Referencing pinouts and timing formulas (e.g., 555 frequency calculations) while planning a circuit
Who it's for
  • Hobbyists building retro computers (e.g., Ben Eater-style 6502 projects)
  • Electronics educators creating visual teaching aids
  • Developers documenting hardware prototypes with breadboard diagrams
  • Makers prototyping 555 timer or logic gate circuits who need visual references

legacy-circuit-mockups FAQ

What microprocessor and memory components are supported?

The W65C02S 8-bit microprocessor, 28C256 32KB EEPROM, W65C22 VIA, and 62256 32KB SRAM.

Can it generate timer circuits like a 555 blinker?

Yes, it includes a step-by-step workflow and formulas for building a 555 astable blinker circuit with resistors, capacitor, and LED.

Does it provide pinout details for the components?

Yes, it includes quick-reference pinout tables for the 555 timer, W65C02S, and 28C256, plus bundled reference files with full specifications.

What is the grid system used for component placement?

Components are placed on a standard breadboard grid with 20px spacing, snapping x/y coordinates to grid cells.

Does it help troubleshoot circuit problems?

Yes, it includes a troubleshooting table covering issues like LEDs not lighting, ICs not powering, and the 555 not oscillating.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from github/awesome-copilot.


name: legacy-circuit-mockups description: 'Generate breadboard circuit mockups and visual diagrams using HTML5 Canvas drawing techniques. Use when asked to create circuit layouts, visualize electronic component placements, draw breadboard diagrams, mockup 6502 builds, generate retro computer schematics, or design vintage electronics projects. Supports 555 timers, W65C02S microprocessors, 28C256 EEPROMs, W65C22 VIA chips, 7400-series logic gates, LEDs, resistors, capacitors, switches, buttons, crystals, and wires.'

Legacy Circuit Mockups

A skill for creating breadboard circuit mockups and visual diagrams for retro computing and electronics projects. This skill leverages HTML5 Canvas drawing mechanisms to render interactive circuit layouts featuring vintage components like the 6502 microprocessor, 555 timer ICs, EEPROMs, and 7400-series logic gates.

When to Use This Skill

  • User asks to "create a breadboard layout" or "mockup a circuit"
  • User wants to visualize component placement on a breadboard
  • User needs a visual reference for building a 6502 computer
  • User asks to "draw a circuit" or "diagram electronics"
  • User wants to create educational electronics visuals
  • User mentions Ben Eater tutorials or retro computing projects
  • User asks to mockup 555 timer circuits or LED projects
  • User needs to visualize wire connections between components

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of component pinouts from bundled reference files
  • Knowledge of breadboard layout conventions (rows, columns, power rails)

Supported Components

Microprocessors & Memory

ComponentPinsDescription
W65C02S40-pin DIP8-bit microprocessor with 16-bit address bus
28C25628-pin DIP32KB parallel EEPROM
W65C2240-pin DIPVersatile Interface Adapter (VIA)
6225628-pin DIP32KB static RAM

Logic & Timer ICs

ComponentPinsDescription
NE5558-pin DIPTimer IC for timing and oscillation
740014-pin DIPQuad 2-input NAND gate
740214-pin DIPQuad 2-input NOR gate
740414-pin DIPHex inverter (NOT gate)
740814-pin DIPQuad 2-input AND gate
743214-pin DIPQuad 2-input OR gate

Passive & Active Components

ComponentDescription
LEDLight emitting diode (various colors)
ResistorCurrent limiting (configurable values)
CapacitorFiltering and timing (ceramic/electrolytic)
CrystalClock oscillator
SwitchToggle switch (latching)
ButtonMomentary push button
PotentiometerVariable resistor
PhotoresistorLight-dependent resistor

Grid System

// Standard breadboard grid: 20px spacing
const gridSize = 20;
const cellX = Math.floor(x / gridSize) * gridSize;
const cellY = Math.floor(y / gridSize) * gridSize;

Component Rendering Pattern

// All components follow this structure:
{
  type: 'component-type',
  x: gridX,
  y: gridY,
  width: componentWidth,
  height: componentHeight,
  rotation: 0,  // 0, 90, 180, 270
  properties: { /* component-specific data */ }
}

Wire Connections

// Wire connection format:
{
  start: { x: startX, y: startY },
  end: { x: endX, y: endY },
  color: '#ff0000'  // Wire color coding
}

Step-by-Step Workflows

Creating a Basic LED Circuit Mockup

  1. Define breadboard dimensions and grid
  2. Place power rail connections (+5V and GND)
  3. Add LED component with anode/cathode orientation
  4. Place current-limiting resistor
  5. Draw wire connections between components
  6. Add labels and annotations

Creating a 555 Timer Circuit

  1. Place NE555 IC on breadboard (pins 1-4 left, 5-8 right)
  2. Connect pin 1 (GND) to ground rail
  3. Connect pin 8 (Vcc) to power rail
  4. Add timing resistors and capacitors
  5. Wire trigger and threshold connections
  6. Connect output to LED or other load

Creating a 6502 Microprocessor Layout

  1. Place W65C02S centered on breadboard
  2. Add 28C256 EEPROM for program storage
  3. Place W65C22 VIA for I/O
  4. Add 7400-series logic for address decoding
  5. Wire address bus (A0-A15)
  6. Wire data bus (D0-D7)
  7. Connect control signals (R/W, PHI2, RESB)
  8. Add reset button and clock crystal

Component Pinout Quick Reference

555 Timer (8-pin DIP)

PinNameFunction
1GNDGround (0V)
2TRIGTrigger (< 1/3 Vcc starts timing)
3OUTOutput (source/sink 200mA)
4RESETActive-low reset
5CTRLControl voltage (bypass with 10nF)
6THRThreshold (> 2/3 Vcc resets)
7DISDischarge (open collector)
8VccSupply (+4.5V to +16V)

W65C02S (40-pin DIP) - Key Pins

PinNameFunction
8VDDPower supply
21VSSGround
37PHI2System clock input
40RESBActive-low reset
34RWBRead/Write signal
9-25A0-A15Address bus
26-33D0-D7Data bus

28C256 EEPROM (28-pin DIP) - Key Pins

PinNameFunction
14GNDGround
28VCCPower supply
20CEChip enable (active-low)
22OEOutput enable (active-low)
27WEWrite enable (active-low)
1-10, 21-26A0-A14Address inputs
11-19I/O0-I/O7Data bus

Formulas Reference

Resistor Calculations

  • Ohm's Law: V = I × R
  • LED Current: R = (Vcc - Vled) / Iled
  • Power: P = V × I = I² × R

555 Timer Formulas

Astable Mode:

  • Frequency: f = 1.44 / ((R1 + 2×R2) × C)
  • High time: t₁ = 0.693 × (R1 + R2) × C
  • Low time: t₂ = 0.693 × R2 × C
  • Duty cycle: D = (R1 + R2) / (R1 + 2×R2) × 100%

Monostable Mode:

  • Pulse width: T = 1.1 × R × C

Capacitor Calculations

  • Capacitive reactance: Xc = 1 / (2πfC)
  • Energy stored: E = ½ × C × V²

Color Coding Conventions

Wire Colors

ColorPurpose
Red+5V / Power
BlackGround
YellowClock / Timing
BlueAddress bus
GreenData bus
OrangeControl signals
WhiteGeneral purpose

LED Colors

ColorForward Voltage
Red1.8V - 2.2V
Green2.0V - 2.2V
Yellow2.0V - 2.2V
Blue3.0V - 3.5V
White3.0V - 3.5V

Build Examples

Build 1 — Single LED

Components: Red LED, 220Ω resistor, jumper wires, power source

Steps:

  1. Insert black jumper wire from power GND to row A5
  2. Insert red jumper wire from power +5V to row J5
  3. Place LED with cathode (short leg) in row aligned with GND
  4. Place 220Ω resistor between power and LED anode

Build 2 — 555 Astable Blinker

Components: NE555, LED, resistors (10kΩ, 100kΩ), capacitor (10µF)

Steps:

  1. Place 555 IC straddling center channel
  2. Connect pin 1 to GND, pin 8 to +5V
  3. Connect pin 4 to pin 8 (disable reset)
  4. Wire 10kΩ between pin 7 and +5V
  5. Wire 100kΩ between pins 6 and 7
  6. Wire 10µF between pin 6 and GND
  7. Connect pin 3 (output) to LED circuit

Troubleshooting

IssueSolution
LED doesn't lightCheck polarity (anode to +, cathode to -)
Circuit doesn't powerVerify power rail connections
IC not workingCheck VCC and GND pin connections
555 not oscillatingVerify threshold/trigger capacitor wiring
Microprocessor stuckCheck RESB is HIGH after reset pulse

References

Detailed component specifications are available in the bundled reference files: