Jonathan "Jon" Titus is a pioneer in the history of personal computing, best known as the creator of the Mark-8 Minicomputer—the first do-it-yourself computer kit featured in a major publication. Born in Washington, D.C., Titus' contributions span education, authorship, and editorial work, as well as serving as an inspiration for generations of hobbyists and engineers. His innovative spirit and practical approach helped make small computers available for a broad range of people by turning complex technology into accessible projects. This tribute celebrates his life, work, and enduring legacy.
Titus was born in Washington, D.C., where his father served in military intelligence during World War II. Jon earned a PhD in chemistry at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now called Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA) in the mid 1970s. As a graduate student, Titus worked with chemical instruments that he and a fellow graduate student designed and connected to a PDP-8/L minicomputer. Titus found himself drawn more to the world of computers and digital circuits than to chemistry. As an alternative to an expensive ($5000 in 1970's dollars) minicomputer the size of several microwave ovens, he first looked at the 4-bit Intel 4004, the first microprocessor, but found it limited. He became more enthusiastic about the 8-bit Intel 8008 microprocessor and asked Intel to send him several free "samples" of the 8008, which it did.
During 1973-1974, he designed the 8008-based Mark-8 Minicomputer as a personal project to explore digital electronics and microprocessor programming. Radio Electronics magazine published the article Jon wrote about how hobbyists and experimenters could build their own Mark-8 computer. The article appeared in the July 1974 issue, which marked the first time an electronics publication provided complete plans for a home-built computer. For a payment of five dollars, Radio-Electronics offered a booklet about the Mark-8, with complete circuits, experiments, and circuit-board layouts.
Jon's Mark-8 required six printed-circuit boards, and cost about $120 in parts (plus $120 for the 8008 integrated circuit) in 1974 US dollars. Although the Mark-8 wasn't a commercial kit such as the later MITS Altair 8800, it inspired people to form user groups and spawned exchanges of information through newsletters. Jon's original Mark-8 is now part of the computer-history collection in the Smithsonian Institution. For his achievements, Titus received the George R. Stibitz Computer & Communications Pioneer Award in 2002 from the American Computer and Robotics Museum in Bozeman, MT.
Titus is a prolific author who has written numerous books and magazine articles about microprocessors, computer-interfacing, and programming. His--and his colleagues--works provided practical guides for hobbyists and students in the late '70's and '80's. Jon often worked with co-authors and collaborators David G. Larsen, Peter R. Rony (PhD), and his brother, Christopher A. Titus (PhD). The four authors adopted the name, "The Blacksburg Group."
The Bugbook series--named for multi-pin integrated circuits that looked like insects; that is "bugs"--became essential reading for people who wanted to learn about digital electronics and microprocessor applications. Here's a partial list of books written by Jon and his colleagues. Howard W. Sams (Indianapolis, IN) published the first edition of many of the group's books. (Sams dropped the Bugbook name. The books listed below use the name of the last edition published.)
These books, especially the original Bugbook series, served as how-to-do-it publications that included experiments, code examples, and computer-interfacing projects that made complex topics approachable for students and hobbyists. Titus and his colleagues also wrote monthly columns about microprocessor applications for several US publications as well as several in Europe and Asia. Some of the authors' books were offered in Italian, Japanese, and German editions.
After earning his PhD in chemistry, Titus transitioned into the fields of electronics and computing full-time. Given his writing background he became the chief editor at EDN magazine in 1984. EDN was a leading periodical for electrical and electronic engineers. Later he served as chief editor at Test & Measurement World. Jon completed his career as a freelance writer who covered electronic topics for magazines such as Design News, ECN, Nuts and Volts, and Vision Systems Design. He remains active in education, mentoring and speaking about microprocessor history.,
Jonathan Titus' Mark-8 Minicomputer sparked the DIY computer movement that proved individuals could build their own machines. His educational focus through books and articles demystified microprocessors and helped educate a generation of engineers. As an individual, and with his colleagues, his work bridged the worlds of academics, hobbyists, and industry professionals. Titus' work embodies the innovative spirit of early computing—turning curiosity into creation. He continues to inspire students and reminds us great ideas start with experimentation. Back to Misc