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Snark Barker: A 100% compatible replica of the famed SB 1.0 soundcard

github.com Software & code Source code Hardware & electronics Candidate
Screenshot of github.com captured 2026-07-20
Page preview · captured 2026-07-20

Resurfaced independently across 3 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
5
submitters
5
observed span
2019–2022
peak thread · 110 comments
312 pts
latest 20+ return · 2022-05-15
25 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

I had absolutely no idea that the original SoundBlaster had embedded firmware running on an 8051. It never occurred to me that our PCs were loosely-coupled piles of microcomputers all the way back then. (Now I'm off to go learn what that firmware was doing...) Some background I dug up quickly: Snark Barker creator's blog: http://tubetime.us/index.php/2019/01/19/sound-blaster-1-0-pr... http://www.os2museum.com/wp/sound-blaster-the-french-connect...

The "MADE IN ANGER" on the silkscreen cracks me up every time I see it. The juxtaposition of a silly message w/ my experience that only "SERIOUS TEXT" goes on PCB silkscreens makes for total hilarity to me.

I wonder how much time went into making it from start to finish. Anyone have a sense of that?

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
544

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
176

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission