In his latest video, Robin from 8-Bit Show & Tell explores the curious history and brilliant geometry of Truchet tiles C64-style. Inspired by the influential 10 PRINT book and a timely nudge from a fellow enthusiast, Robin digs into the 1704 patterns of Father Sébastien Truchet and faithfully re-creates them on the Commodore 64. What unfolds is a creative deep dive into PETSCII art, historical typography, and the quirks of 8-bit graphics.
Here are six key takeaways from this visually rich and intellectually satisfying journey through Truchet tiles C64 interpretation.
1. From 1704 to PETSCII
Robin revives all 30 original patterns from Truchet’s 1704 memoir using C64’s built-in PETSCII character set. These designs, crafted from a single tile rotated in four directions, become mesmerizing when arranged into full-screen C64 patterns.
2. Alphabet Oddities and Ampersands
Truchet’s original tile labels skip over J, K, and W due to the historical quirks of the French alphabet in the 1700s. To fill the gap, the ampersand symbol (&) makes a surprise cameo as pattern number 24. Bonus content includes six larger “bonus” patterns labeled 1 through 6.
3. Built-In Truchet Tiles on the C64
The Commodore 64 already has the perfect set of Truchet-like diagonals hiding in plain sight. Robin identifies four PETSCII characters that match the tile requirements and uses them to great effect in generating each pattern.
4. Imperfect Pixels, Perfect Charm
Although the C64’s pixel grid doesn’t allow true 50/50 tile shading, Robin embraces the slight visual imbalance. The diagonal lines—though janky in places—still produce beautiful, hypnotic layouts. Even their imperfections add to their charm.
5. Assembly Language Magic
The downloadable .D64 disk includes Turbo Macro Pro and all the source files for the project. Robin promises a follow-up video with an in-depth source code walkthrough, ideal for anyone interested in 6510 assembly and creative data structures.
6. History Meets Nerdy Fun
From Father Truchet’s work in fonts and hydraulics to PETSCII experimentation, Robin weaves history with modern C64 fun. This video isn’t just about visuals—it’s about ideas, design, and the joy of learning something obscure and turning it into code.
Conclusion:
Robin’s exploration of Truchet tiles C64 is both an homage to historical curiosity and a practical demonstration of what the Commodore 64 can still do. Viewers can download the source, run the patterns, and enjoy this blend of art, code, and geometry. Whether you’re a PETSCII purist or a geometry geek, this video is worth every pixel.
