Here be dragons: Preventing static damage, latchup, and metastability in the 386

This blog post explores the design and protective circuitry of the Intel 386 processor's I/O pins against threats like static electricity, latchup, and metastability. The author, Ken Shirriff, shares detailed insights from reverse-engineering the chip and presents original circuits, including a unique previously-undescribed flip-flop, that showcase how these threats are mitigated in this historical processor. His analysis contributes significant knowledge relevant for engineers and developers working with hardware.