Let's Build a FAST Serial Terminal with PS/2 and VGA

Published at : 23 Dec 2025

I am building my own serial terminal using just 3 ICs (2x ATmega328P and 74HC166. It works from 28800 up to 230400 bits per second and interprets (some) ANSI control sequences. Schematics, Arduino sketches and PCB layout are included. Have fun!

GitHub project repository:
https://github.com/slu4coder/Minimal-Terminal

Minimal UART CPU System:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYlQj5cfIcBU5SqFe6Uz4Q31_6VZyZ8h5
https://github.com/slu4coder/Minimal-UART-CPU-System

EDIT: Augusto Baffa has added support for US-international keyboard map: https://github.com/abaffa/Minimal-Terminal

Building a Minimal VGA:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZABNgYb6TQ

Photograph of PDP-8 by ComputerGeek7066 (only part of the images shown)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/PDP_8-e.jpg

Photograph of DEC VT-100 by Jason Scott (showing only the foreground)
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/DEC_VT100_terminal.jpg