YouTuber Ben Eater makes incredible “simple” computers from scratch…on breadboards. His website has carefully laid out instructions of the build and links to each of the different modules.
I built a programmable 8-bit computer from scratch on breadboards using only simple logic gates. I documented the whole project in a series of YouTube videos and on this web site.
BACKGROUND
If you’re interested in seeing the computer in action to get a sense of what it can do, check out these videos:
- Programming my 8-bit breadboard computer
- Stepping through a program on the 8-bit breadboard computer
- Comparing C to machine language (this and the following video will give you a sense of how this simple computer relates to modern computers you may be more familiar with)
- Programming Fibonacci on a breadboard computer
If you want to dive into the details of how the computer works and understand it from first principles, but are a little unsure of how transistors and logic gates work (or just want a refresher), here’s a few videos to serve as an introduction:
Check out more from Ben Eater on YouTube and see his website here