11 HN users recommended this tutorial11 months2019–2026score 14
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN repeatedly recommends it as the best hands-on way to understand how a CPU and a computer work from first principles.
Ben Eater starts a series building a working computer on breadboards around the 6502 microprocessor. In this first part he gets a 'hello world' running from scratch.
“It is highly recommended if you want to dive down into computers and digital logic on first principles.” (HN, 2020)
The (awesome) youtube electronics teacher Ben Eater has just started a series of videos building a 6502 based computer on a breadboard, and he sells kits. I just got my kit, so I'm really looking forward to the rest of the videos. He also offers the schematics for those wanting to jump ahead. [this video] [link]
Here is an amazing video on how to build a computer based on 6502 on a breadboard, and program it in binary to get a Hello World equivalent. I highly recommend it: [this video]
Build a 6502 computer on a breadboard and program it in binary.
After stumbling on Ben Eaters “Hello world from scratch” [1] I went out and bought the cpu some parts and breadboards. The chip is only a few dollars. It is highly recommended if you want to dive down into computers and digital logic on first principles. Also great fun to get a break from all the screens and layers upon layers of software that I have to deal with daily. 1. [this video]
Hands-on learning of computers from first principles.
I found the „Hello world from scratch“[1] series from Ben Eater incredibly helpful in connecting the dots between electricity and modern computers. Strictly speaking it is about electronics, still it is superbly presented and incredibly enlightening when coming from „normal“ software engineering perspective of things. What actually got me there was the book „Code“ by Charles Petzold[2] which traces the development from early circuitry like light bulbs and telegraph wires to modern digital logic. I found that after being introduced to these concepts, learning about the fundamental physics was much more accessible since it was framed in the context of contemporary application. 1: [this video] 2: [link]
Connects electricity to modern computers for software engineers.
i would suggest to follow Ben Eater's 8 bit computer [this video] and would strongly recommend to build it (you can see the parts on his website [link] or buy the whole kit)
For anyone interested in the 6502, assembly and just in general how things like loops, conditional branches, hardware communication, etc all work, I HIGHLY recommend Ben Eater's videos on the subject: [this video] They are incredibly fascinating!
Explains loops, branches and hardware communication on a 6502.
If anyone is interested in learning a little more about the 6502, Ben Eater recently did a video about it [0]. Also just in general if you hadn't heard of his channel and are reading this comment, you'll definitely enjoy what he does. [0] [this video]
For anyone itching for more Ben Eater, he's currently working on a series where he takes a 6502-type processor and turns it into a usable computer. Here's the first video: [this video]
Ben Eater turns a 6502-type processor into a usable computer.
If fritzing gets #1 spot on HN I would like to wholeheartedly recommend [link] as well. IMHO much saner workflow and good UX in the latest version.I did a simple PCB and got it manufactured on [link] for a couple bucks. Quite a rewarding experience. I would also suggest that anyone who cares about computers gets to know basic electronics. How do transistors work, what is a bus (e.g I2C or SPI) and how is it all connected? (Drumroll ... a PCB of course). There is a ton of tutorials on youtube that do it end to end. E.g Phils Lab [link] for a PCB design. Or Ben Eaters excellent beginner tutorial "Hello World from Scratch" [this video]
Beginner tutorial on basic electronics and computers.
Ben Eater's fantastic video series on building a breadboard 6502 based computer and an 8-bit breadboard computer from scratch might be appreciated in this thread. 6502 playlist: [this video] 8-bit build playlist: [link] He also sells kits if one is interested in playing along.
Fantastic series building a breadboard 6502 computer.
Ben Eater's 8-bit projects are the easiest place to start if you don't already deeply understand how such computers work. He starts with the hardware and eventually builds up to writing non-trival assembly for it. [this video]
Easiest starting point for understanding how such computers work.
I respectfully disagree, BASIC/Java/Arduino hides too much about how the CPU works from users. Getting a 6502 kit from Ben Eater, and walking though how the CPU works will implicitly show how languages abstracted away whats actually happening. And more importantly, the skills necessary to understand how to write efficient programs. [this video] [link] Starting with a simple architecture is highly recommended. =3
Shows what the CPU is actually doing, unlike high-level languages.
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