“Hello, world” from scratch on a 6502 - Part 1

Learn how computers work in this series where I build and program a basic computer with the classic 6502 microprocessor. More info: www.eater.net/6502
Part 2: • How do CPUs read machi...
Part 3: • Assembly language vs. ...
Part 4: • Connecting an LCD to o...
Part 5: • What is a stack and ho...
Part 6: • RAM and bus timing - 6...
Part 7: • Subroutine calls, now ...
Support these videos on Patreon: / beneater or eater.net/support for other ways to support.
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Website: www.eater.net
Twitter: / ben_eater
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Special thanks to these supporters for making this video possible:
Alex Catchpole
Armin Brauns
BakerStaunch
Beau-James Erion
Ben
Ben Dyson
Ben Kamens
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[@jonathancayaban8631]

"So first, we'll be heading over to the nearest beach to gather our silicon"

[@jaminvalick5612]

I think this is the most a KZbin comment has ever made me laugh

[@niteshprabhu6791]

Before that we have to create the solar system

[@wingsonthebus]

I won’t start making real videos until I can start at the BEGINNING, dammit

[@qaisjamal]

I was literally looking for this comment

[@johnjordan3552]

But before that we need a couple of hydrogen atoms so we can create silicon through fusion

[@kleinebre]

When you want to learn programming and you finally find a "hello world" tutorial... but it says "part 1".

[@MannIchFindKeinName]

kleinebre: I want to learn programming yt: here, learn how machines work

[@fragileomniscience7647]

A hello world shaped code that puts out hello world

[@raphaelmorgan2307]

if you're just starting out learning programming in general, I recommend starting with pure software 😅 unless you're like, really really good at making hardware already and just want to know how to program that specifically

[@aroncanapa5796]

@Hand Grabbing Fruits the most in depth

[@moonshadow8795]

Means I'm digging deep into the subject. Thanks Ben Eater

[@danielbonheur5441]

Everyone: "Look, I built my own computer!" Ben: "No, you ASSEMBLED your own computer."

[@valinhorn42]

... and didn't even write a single line of assembly code to do it!

[@stevenwatson9678]

honestly some people who put together computers with prebuilt components fool themselves believing it’s a very impressive task. understanding of computer functionality goes far deeper than knowing what a gpu is used for. Not to say people can’t be proud of what they make, but they should acknowledge they aren’t an engineer. Once again only some people.

[@mohamedirfan2816]

@@stevenwatson9678 True!

[@m33r61]

@@stevenwatson9678 yeah i built my first PC when i was 12 with a youtube tutorial without having done much research into how a PC actually works(as i was busy researching parts deemed "good" that fit within my budget). I was blown away by just how simple it is and the fact you don't require any troubleshooting ability to solve most issues, as most issues you run into are "oh shit I have to screw that ion first otherwise it won't fit".

[@On-su7el]

@@m33r61 How can a memory chip in a calculator know it is 1 not a 5 , 6 or some other number . Tell me??💗🍭

[@Dan_Mak_21]

"sometimes is reading, sometimes is writing, but honestly I don't know what it's doing" Me describing my brain during a test.

[@collinb3371]

Lol did not even mine the ore and smelt it into wire. You call this from scratch?

[@tonydai782]

you don't need to smelt redstone

[@amineabdz]

ikr ... kids these days have it so easy

[@DrGandW]

He didn’t even create the universe it exists in

[@carlotiu1308]

Do you use furnace to cook the ore

[@jsutinbibber9508]

Making a microprocessor from scratch is easier and less grindy than making an ae2 system

[@whatdamath]

Another important skill missing from modern education: reading data sheets or even knowing where to find them. Thanks for making things so clear, Ben!

[@johnsmith-eo3nz]

Wow, Anton likes computer stuff

[@radoczi94]

@@lambdasun4520 "A joke is a display of humour in which words are used within a specific and well-defined narrative structure to make people laugh and is not meant to be taken seriously."

[@shortscouture1]

@@pauleveritt3388 spoken like a true seppo

[@UseQPixinDune]

Nice to see you here

[@soumendrapanigrahi2497]

wow u like computers too.... I watch ur videos

[@falcy2889]

I’m actually really interested in how they actually did this in the 80s without arduino and all that stuff. Those people were absolute madman geniuses

[@danieladmob7735]

They used machine code

[@crewrangergaming9582]

and all that so teenagers can click pictures with dog filters.

[@explorerguy]

@@crewrangergaming9582 worth

[@ARockyRock]

@@explorerguy agreed

[@-aexc-]

@@crewrangergaming9582 kids bad! amirite

[@danimal_1814]

This is great!! - I wish I had this video back in '83 when I was trying to build projects w/ the Z80 - I really needed this information. Thank you! Really well done Ben!

[@sdsdfdu4437]

"Hey bro you gonna get the new Playstation or Xbox?" "Nah I'll just build my own."

[@ggldmrd5583]

Video games player : "Xbox or PS?" Ben Eater : "yess"

[@666cesar999]

that's pretty much what bulding your own pc is.

[@erikshure360]

PC master race

[@sajeucettefoistunevaspasme]

@@erikshure360 bread board is better

[@artisorak]

Can you overclock it? 👀👀

[@vivivizion]

"what languages do you know?" "breadboard"

[@RogerBarraud]

Solder.

[@RogerBarraud]

...and Crimp.

[@kalebbruwer]

Just in case you want to flex on the guy who flexes with Assembly

[@WindPortal]

lol

[@tredI9100]

It's machine code

[@keistzenon9593]

Dude that was great! Your explanation and delivery were crystal clear, well paced AND visually appealing. You showed different parts, zoomed in etc. just great 😁

[@monkey_see_monkey_do]

Setting up the address to read instruction from followed by NOP instruction itself using resistors has blown my mind completely! Also this is the first video that finally gave me an idea of what are the clock cycles and how do they relate to the processor. This is incredibly valuable information if you're trying to write an emulator. Thank you so much Ben! This was super instructive!

[@nirui.o]

Next up: “Hello, world” from scratch on a set of electrons.

[@willemschipper7736]

I'd be down

[@anders5611]

Hello world from scratch without an integrated circuit, make the circuit yourself with discrete transistors

[@aapadd]

@@willemschipper7736 (quantum physics joke)

[@_wheat856]

Rui Ni it’s atoms, electrons are the spheres that circle the center one

[@WatercraftGames]

Up next: hello world from scratch on a cave

[@FlorianEagox]

As a software guy, watching this computer engineering stuff is fascinating to me. You're breaking down levels of abstraction I've never ventured so deep into and it feels magical.

[@ChickentNug]

The Fox army thats how it seems to me too Its such cool stuff

[@Namburiadityasairam2605]

The electronic engineers walked so that the software crowd could fly

[@okie9025]

Yeah this is more electrical engineering which was popular back in the 70s, but now computer science tackles way more complex problems that couldn't even exist if we were stuck with assembly!

[@unlokia]

This is ACTUAL programming, actually depositing the bits and bytes onto the CPU, directly ORDERING it, where it has no choice but to obey, not hoping some 10th-level abstracted "programming" language author knew how to get what you asked for down to the machine level to do the same.

[@okie9025]

@@unlokia god it must suck to be you, perpetually gate keeping in order to increase your ego. You havo no right to call something programming or not, and this video doesn't teach you actual programming that could come useful in a computer science field. Sorry if you're being sarcastic, but that kind of mindset is just baffling to me.

[@inggiacometto]

I wanna cry, this is the most beautiful thing i have seen, pure magic!!!

[@noir371]

These videos make computer geek me so happy. How can anyone not find this stuff fascinating, it's just so magical

[@RiggedBananaGaming]

You know it's going to be a good day when you get a video from Ben!

[@nkusters]

Yup, been recommending his video’s to everyone who will listen, glad to see a new vid :)

[@Alessandro-dz3cw]

Ya r right

[@harrytsang1501]

You know it's even better when he starts the video with VIM

[@benjamindragon598]

Next video: Contacting extra-terrestrial life with my marble calculator

[@justcama]

You know it's going to be a bad day when he doesn't do what the title says until PART 2 :(

[@Exatomos]

Someone: what language was this program written in ? Ben Eater: R E S I S T O R B R E A D B O A R D

[@ArnasBies]

C/C++

[@nguyenhoanglong420]

:)

[@thenistthedev]

@@Puzzled420....what? ah i see your name..

[@oniruddhoalam2039]

6502 ASM

[@kebman]

I can't resist!

[@diegodonofrio]

Ben, receiving my 6502 computer kit was a highlight of my week, especially since it arrived so swiftly to Spain, ordered on Tuesday and by Friday. The kit itself is exactly what I've been looking forward to, equipped with every component needed for assembly. Your projects have always been a source of inspiration for me, and this experience has only amplified my enthusiasm. Your work not only educates but also builds a community of curious minds. I’m more excited than ever to be a part of this journey and to see where this newfound inspiration takes me. Thank you!

[@virtualan]

I was into Zilog Z80 machine code programming back in the day. Your video reminded me so much of these amazing days. Thanks for sharing!

[@GiveAcademy]

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!!! Having been doing reverse engineering for over 15 years now.. the way you broke this down and went through each step whilst implying the reasons each step were done and important. really allows the mind to be setup for the reasons the next steps make sense. VERY WELL DONE! I can see the passion and time that went into this and I must say.... KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MY FRIEND!

[@tonyr.5111]

I agree! He's done a 👍great job!!!

[@milanpetrik7419]

He's brilliant. Not a single spare word..

[@pauleveritt3388]

If you REALLY enjoyed it that much and learned something from it, throw the guy $10 or $20 to REALLY say thank you.

[@compactcow]

Tomorrow's video: running Windows 10 on 1,000 breadboards with only nand gates.

[@meithecatte8492]

Hah, 1000. That's optimistic.

[@God-ch8lq]

@@meithecatte8492 ben eater: are you challenging me

[@emanueldebresser3208]

...maybe you need to go for a walk in the park

[@williammentink]

Running a Windows 10 on an emulator that runs on his breadboard. That would fit the theme.

[@firmman4505]

William Mentink ..

[@tomkinsg]

well, i first watched this video a couple of years ago and i bought the kit. I build the clock about 8 months ago and today i stepped through this video. I have learned so much in the process. Thank you Ben.

[@sjair6526]

This channel is exactly what I am looking for. Thank You so much for taking the time to put them out there! You would be great at teaching programming on here.

[@luisvictoria9542]

Your content is so amazing, it make me appreciate computers in a whole new level!!

[@mmseng2]

I've worked in IT for 12 years and this holds true for me as well.

[@yxcvbnmmnbvcxy544]

This low level stuff is muuuch more interesting than todays overpriced Smartphones! Who cares about A666 Ai bionic processor when you can have a 6502!

[@sathvikswaminathan7933]

I feel the same.

[@annieperdue6140]

Ditto!

[@abhinavgaming2110]

​@33Ddg209Ret7​ actually earth will end tmrw soo......yeh.......

[@cocorico128]

“If you wish to make “Hello, world” from scratch, you must first invent the universe.” - Carl "Ben Eater" Sagan

[@deidei2305]

😂

[@ribertfranhanreagen9821]

Lol no, programing is basicly trying to create our own virtual universe. If you can make your own universe you already far outdone hello world.

[@ZombieChicken-X]

@@ribertfranhanreagen9821 its a joke dude

[@whirlwind872]

@@ribertfranhanreagen9821 Missing the point, the quote means that "from scratch" can regress infinitely, he started with a 6502 in this video but that's not _really_ from scratch, because it already has super complex circuits inside it. And even if he wired the 6502 manually, he didn't manufacture the wires and switches and LEDs himself, he didn't mine the raw silicon/copper/etc from the earth to make those components either, nor did he create those raw materials (they were here from when the earth formed), he didn't create the earth, nor the solar system, nor the galaxy, nor the universe. So did he do this from scratch? Fuck no! Lying ass title. Dude didn't even invent the galaxy, let alone the universe... though, we can still agree, that in some sense the video is indeed "from scratch." It's just a matter of... to what degree

[@ahmfkddr7939]

invent reality

[@Zwiesel66]

Thank you for these super interesting videos, Ben, a great source for learning.

[@jassimjaved3309]

Amazing video! High quality, to the point and informative!

[@ArnavBarbaad]

If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe - Carl Sagan

[@ObjectsInMotion]

*Raspberry Pi

[@Julio974]

This sound more like a quote from Douglas Adams

[@ObjectsInMotion]

Luke Gabriel Balgan Yes, but how on earth did you possibly know that?

[@shane8037]

@Jay Vigilant quoting Carl Sagan unwittingly proving God's existence isn't pretentious, it's funny

[@Dillinger86]

@@shane8037 Quoting Carl Sagan does NOT prove the existence of your invisible sky daddy, you uneducated potato.

[@purebm2201]

me, a biologist: "what the hell am I doing here?" also me: *clicks part 2

[@just_a_rock]

You're learning how you should emulate the artificial intelligence that you're going to be inserting into your synthetic organism from scratch.

[@Chaos89P]

In some bizarre way, a computer is also a living thing.

[@tchgs11zdok15]

😂😂😂👌

[@techheaven007]

same here xD being a bio technologist i have no idea whats going on but it still fascinates me :v

[@ThatGuyDownInThe]

Dude combining biology and computer science would be an insane combo.

[@michaelbasher]

What a great learning opportunity. Total respect

[@garyfry7292]

OMG! Kudos! I learned 6502 on a Vic-20 with DATA statements in BASIC, back in the day, and I'm still figuring out how hardware actually works. I'm amazed at how you've made a variable-speed clock source with "freeze-frame" and stepping support on a single bread-board! (this might be "normal" for hardware engineers, but for me this is just wow!)

[@ireallyhatemakingupnamesfo1758]

"As you can see from this number here it was manufactured in-" Me: "389 AD!!!" "The third week of 1989" Me: :(

[@oximas]

your user name LOL

[@jamesb9120]

Him: the guide is only 30 pages long Me: I'll read it if it has enough pictures

[@waliedahmed5030]

lol saaaaaaaame

[@netrapatil2169]

Haha

[@niggisgaming1637]

datasheets contains images and pictures soo maybe

[@jamesb9120]

@@niggisgaming1637 I know, I was just making a joke about how dumb and childish I am

[@niggisgaming1637]

@@jamesb9120 ok np man

[@ChrisPinCornwall]

Absolutely brilliant - I learned so much in half an hour, and your explanations are so clear, thank you so much.

[@dashwinterson8855]

You're doing great work, please don't stop doing what you're doing

[@restlesssheep7156]

I don't understand what is going on, but I like it.

[@craftsmanwoodturner]

This video is pretty much the most simple explanation of how a microprocessor operates. Since you're struggling, here's a reasonably short clarification. On reset, the chip goes to a default memory address to start reading a program - in machine code. To do this, it sets all the 16-bit address bus pins to the memory address it wants, and then sets the I/O pin to "read". Data flows in via the 8-bit data bus. The value it reads is interpreted as an instruction, and it performs that operation. Here, Ben has it performing a NOP or "no operation" - i.e. do nothing. The chip then goes to get the next instruction, another NOP, and so on. The magic really starts to happen when a real program is loaded, but to do that Ben needs to wire up some memory (he mentions a ROM, or read only memory). For just a couple of seconds, the chart of chip set operation codes was on screen, listing all the possible actions the chip can perform. A little more detail is needed about the chip's internal architecture to understand exactly how it does stuff, but I'm hoping Ben covers that in part 2.

[@sah7920]

@@craftsmanwoodturner another explanation I don't understand ... But I like it

[@adrianatgaming8640]

@@sah7920 just like when your maths teacher who's too nerdy explains things.

[@daehnihc]

@@craftsmanwoodturner I dont know what any of these words mean but maybe one day i will and ill be able to make cool breadboard contraptions

[@martinostlund1879]

I do understand, and I also like it.

[@greenie62]

Him:"I don't really know what's going on here." Me: Way ahead of you on that one at least.

[@ZavMatevos]

Just want to say thank you so much for your videos, you explain everything so clearly and so well... please don't stop making videos like this!

[@enriqueeenriquez2180]

This video was created with a clever and elegant approach. It stresses on the schematics/data sheet understanding and the importance of hardware. A forgotten factor for the new generation of Engineer.. Great Job!!!!!

[@michaelbarnes5039]

the only one in the world that can put "hello, world!" on a programming resume and instantly be hired.

[@jeevanjacob4102]

Ben: Use an arduino to understand what the chip is doing The 1950s guy developing the chip: why didn't I think of that!

[@BikeArea]

Underrated comment. 😋

[@rhysbaker2595]

The guy to build the first computer must have had a hard time debugging it. Poor guy would probably just have to do the calculations by hand to check they were right

[@eclmist]

​@@rhysbaker2595 Something that many (if not most) CS programs today will have you do in foundation courses. It's surprisingly not that difficult - doable by students on paper during exams

[@andrewlydon7819]

@@eclmist I was one of those guys in the early 1980s. Task #1 given the raw hardware. Get the LED attached to an output pin to light up. No help from an Arduino. The only tool was an analogue voltmeter which told you 'low', 'high' or 'changing'. It took me a week to get the LED to light up. Having done that, progress quickened. Every function I wrote did something different with the LED so I could track if it had worked or not. I kept going until I could bitbang asynch serial data to an old VT100 terminal. Very satisfying in the end to have it say "Hello".

[@_programming_]

@@andrewlydon7819 I'm a software engineer.. and I would love to know how the heck you do that :).

[@ado-ante]

Absolutely captivating. I'll be buying that kit as soon as I can!

[@ramimehyar481]

Best KZbin channel ever! Great educational approach and pace! I am starting to learn embedded systems and was about to give up till I saw this Channel.

[@michaelvanderbeek6869]

I remember doing something like this in University. We had to build full system with a 68000 processor, boot power circuit, ram/eprom(for the program), two serial ports. Then when that was working, we had to write an actual multitasking OS in assembly code from scratch that had interrupt driven drivers for the serial ports, that we can pass messages between the the serial ports. And all of it done in 3 months, this was even before Linux had kernel 0.8 Lots of fun.. some of the student boards had so many weird problems, one of them only work if you put your finger at an exact spot of on the bread board. THIS was never attempted by subsequent generations of students. I was in the pioneer batch of a new school in a Singapore's Nanyang Technological University and we had lectures from around to world to come and question us for 3 years to gain accreditation. Fun times. This was done in second year of the uni. 1990. That degree was designed to bridge the gap between electrical/electronic engineers and computer science. So we had to do a mix of both subjects.

[@michaelvanderbeek6869]

Forgot to mention. It was in 1989 or 1990 when it was done

[@Sudhirkumar-sk8up]

love it man!!! thanks for sharing. a cs student here!!

[@clared5812]

That sounds like such an amazing program. What a privilege for you to attend :)

[@elia-eo3bf]

Reminds me of my university I'm studying. All of that stuff sounds like learning a mystical language to perform magic even for me.

[@tedmilbaugh8680]

Wow! I only had to build an 8085 system from scratch, with an LED display for address and data, a 16-key keyboard for inputting address and data, and a button the run the program that you input manually. Piece of cake! Oh, that was 1981.

[@karpedjem6958]

Watching your video brought me back to the early 80’s when I programmed a microprocessor for the first time in my life, using hexadecimal code for each of the instructions like LDA, STA, etc. And writing them as well data in RAM memory before executing the ‘program’. Good memory. Thank you for this video. Thumb up.

[@lamouche8490]

Greetings from France !! 🇫🇷 were we begin the first year of school engineering with what you used 40 years back, assembler So glad to use python right after 😄

[@larrybud]

I did the same. First programmed in BASIC on a TRS-80 in 6th grade, and when I got my own home computer, the Atari 800, guessing around 1982, I started doing 6502 stuff. I remember hooking servo motors up to the joystick ports and controlling their position with 6502 code. IIRC the joystick ports were serial i/o. I would have been 13 yo at that time. When I made the move to the Atari ST, 68000 based, man, that was so much easier programming than 6502!!

[@stevenspmd]

Finally started putting together my 6502 kit. Very fun project. One thing I did to make life easier was make custom cables for connecting to the Arduino. Basically take single pre-made Dupont cables and group them into larger blocks by replacing individual plastic collars for multi-pin collars. No need for crimping, just a fine tip pair of tweezers and lots of patience.

[@ThePilhuhn]

Brilliant. Thanks for creating that video.

[@northshorepx]

WHOA!!!! brilliant. I learned assembler on the 6502 back in the early 80s as a teenager. This is really starting a trip down memory lane. You are a great teacher Ben. Thank you for sharing your content.

[@cheeseparis1]

Same.for.me. Actually when he was showing the opcodes, I checked A5, remembering it's LDA

[@favesongslist]

Likewise, I built a UK101 (A UK version of the Ohio Superboard) great days when you had a good hope of understanding how a whole microcomputer worked. I made so many hardware mods to my UK101 stood me in a very good stead as an electronics design engineer come programmer.

[@johnm2012]

@@cheeseparis1 It's wonderful to know that the 6502 is still available. I see the modern instruction set has more opcodes than I had access to on the original chip. PHX and PHY - what a luxury not to have to use TXA PHA. And it's good to note that the indirect addressing page boundary bug was fixed. I don't know how well it's known that the ARM instruction set was heavily inspired by the 6502. Computer Scientist Sophie Wilson of Acorn Computers designed the original ARM instruction set based on her experience of writing BBC Basic in 6502 assembly language.

[@pentachronic]

Same here. Used to write assembler by hand and look up the op codes and poke them into memory on PET2000. Fun days !!

[@galaxynova9276]

Its called Assembly

[@algamdie]

Big thumb for this man & his channel. Sharing knowledge is what make earth better place for life.

[@user-ll4cj2gl2v]

Abu halal halali ?

[@algamdie]

@@user-ll4cj2gl2v Arabic name

[@NaifAlqahtani]

حسبت انا الوحيد العربي اللي اتابعة

[@moulayediag3873]

@@user-ll4cj2gl2v So you can read arabic ......!!!

[@user-ll4cj2gl2v]

@@moulayediag3873 what's the meaning of "arabic" ?

[@nikwilliams4396]

This is fantastic, very interesting! Thank you for putting this together. I've worked with computers for years on the software side, but have never really delved into actually "how" it works.

[@maloiik]

this was an absolutely fantastic watch

[@Felix-ve9hs]

*6502:* What is my purpose? *Ben Eater:* DO NOTHING *Ben Eater:* REPEAT

[@melkiorwiseman5234]

What are you doing, 6502? You should not be waking! Run deep! Eat code! Drink electricity! Go do nothing! Ben Eater is talking! (Kudos if you know where I paraphrased that from) :)

[@JacGoudsmit]

*6502*: Where should I start? *Ben Eater*: At address

[@isaac.zeitgeist]

6502: Oh... Ben Eater: YEAH, WELCOME TO THE CLUB, PAL

[@jarisipilainen3875]

he is trying show what happening when instruction is NOP and how prosessor react to it. its like AAH now you understand what it might do when doing LDA and STA

[@pow9606]

Do nothing. Not possible

[@OranCollins]

YAY! I just got my kit, and following along from home! this is so cool! feel like im building a computer in the 80's like the homebrew computer club guys! thanks ben.

[@RickHenderson]

That’s how Apple started 😎

[@AlanCanon2222]

How far did you get?

[@OranCollins]

@@AlanCanon2222 got all the way through making the clock. got stuck on a hard debug problem with wiring. i ended up making my own arduino based clock module (beause im cheep:) )

[@drtidrow]

In one of my classes in college (1989), we wire-wrapped up a 8085-based single-board computer. Really gave a good understanding of how simple computers like the Apple II and C64 worked. I've still got it squirreled away in the basement somewhere.

[@jking1329]

As someone who's getting into programming this is so delightful to see, I learned a lot and I was entertained through all the video.

[@f-73p21]

It's a great project to get into if you're interested in how computers work at a lower level. I bought the kit and have posted an unboxing video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILbhWdnrsl4fK8

[@tobiashenockl4525]

I started 6502 assembler programming with my C64 at the age of ~12 years, but never had any knowledge on hardware. You bring back that wonderful time of curiosity, experimentation and magic. Thank you so much! ❤️

[@breandon-hz5yz]

do you like ecma

[@ericrosas9199]

Hey dude, as a Computer Engineering student that's just starting to get into the meat of the major... Thank you. This is probably the most entertaining video I've seen on the subject and SOOOOOO in depth, detailed, and CLEAR. I really felt like I understood each step even though I'm only in the process of my first microcontroller class. Seriously, thank you.

[@messupfreq550]

I came across this and at first thought it was some kind of joke / April fools thingie / memory lane crap!! Oh man... back to some memories - I had been doing assembly language programming for the 8080 (honest), in the late 70's. Employer had a project and wanted the 6502. Thought I would hate this CPU because they did crazy things like use low ram memory for registers and register commands that worked there instead of the CPU and was writing real time code where timing really mattered. Sheesh, once I got the hang of it I thought everybody ought to work it that way. This was especially true if you were a C programmer because of the similarities in pointer uses. I would map out register space and go for it, no pushes/pops - just a fetch instead of hmmm.. dang it where was that crap I left on the stack... rats, I just drove the stack into the basement!! Anyway, many thanks!! Good to see people still kickin' it!!

[@massimookissed1023]

Yep, those times when you wonder where the processor is going, then realise you have one more push than the number of pops.

[@morezco]

This project is amazing, and the videos are incredibly well done. I am actually going to do it. Thank you Ben.

[@keith224]

I can see where this is going and I can see this is a really great series (having just watched the first 5 min of part 1). I learned to develop on the Z80 a LLLLOOOONNNGGG time ago and where you are going is amazing and explained so well.

[@Jp-zs9jc]

"Hello Ben, thank you so much!" I always had this dream to one day understand how a computer works... I watched every single video you uploaded here and i have to say you made that dream come true! Also the videos are very well made and you sound like a lovely person! My first youtube comment ever btw... Jens

[@igorthelight]

You may buy an Arduino board and make it do something :-) It's really not hard! Actually - it's easier that what was shown in this video.

[@DrSavitruc]

@@igorthelight Hi! I have always been interested in understanding how computers worked, and I think I would be more interested in handling basic electronic components and coding in close-to-machine code like this guy is doing rather than using a compiler and a high-level coding language that hides everything from me. However, I have no idea where to start. I would be ready to buy things, of course, but as long as I get to get my hands in the workings of those things and get a LED to light up I would be excited and satisfied enough, for the moment. Where and how do you think I should start, assuming I know absolutely nothing of what's going on?

[@igorthelight]

@@DrSavitruc Well I'm not the right man to ask. This channel is great for explaining low level things. And also you could program for Arduino in Assembly: forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=37130.0

[@jakefriesen187]

WOOOO!!! I absolutely love these videos! I followed your videos this summer and built the 8-bit computer, such a great learning opportunity! you have taught me more than I have learnt in computer engineering at school

[@azzajohnson2123]

surfer300ZX In university (college) all I did really was learn how to effectively learn and create my own interpretation and content based on others work. KZbin taught me more as a learning resource about things I’m interested in and even in my career than I could ever learn on any course or degree 📜. Personally I think a combination of structured learning and focused / serendipity learning is the best match overall.

[@muhammadputera6593]

@surfer300ZX the sad thing is that employers look for that college diploma as a precondition for hiring (at least in my country, dunno about the US), which is why colleges are here to stay despite the rise of great free online resources for learning like Ben's awesome channel here. Wish it weren't so though...

[@JohnAbrahamsen]

@surfer300ZX Not really. The computer engineering educators these days dont think this is valuable knowledge. If it is or not is up to debate as most people use C# and Java, and dont know the difference between AC and DC. The knowledge in this video is taught in electronic engineering classes on master level.

[@chrisxd146]

@surfer300ZX At my university, this kind of class has recently become a pre-requisite for all the engineering degrees (albeit not as advanced since it's not well funded). Though it has given me a new hobby!

[@sujanaryal833]

College and university is only for getting a degree. If you want to learn than learning it yourself from different sources like book, sites and this kind of video is the best way to go. The sad reality is you need a degree to get a stable job regardless of how knowledgeable you are. So basically college is just for increasing your debt with the promise of stable job.

[@donaldwright2426]

Now, this was very interting! Thanks Ben.

[@liamtolkkinen5025]

this is such an amazing video. Very concise and clear

[@jordanhubbard]

This is one of the best, if not the all-time best, videos on how to truly UNDERSTAND a CPU (starting from the absolute basics) I have ever seen. Kudos! It starts at just the right level of complexity and builds from there, also using modern tools to jump over some of the frustrating hoops we actually had to jump *through* back in the 1980s. :). I absolutely love this.

[@einarabelc5]

But hoops is where the fun is no? 32 kb of memory....WOW!!!

[@CriticalCentrist]

CompTIA's A+ 220 1101 explain processors well too

[@challica]

Me: enthusiastically learning c# in my thirties. YT algorithm: here is something to shake your beliefs and self-esteem.

[@darkyelox]

And I was searching how to program in ASM to be a better programmer and then this guy destroyed me right here

[@phoenixstone4208]

hey, it's okay! we're all learning on our own paths, i'm a bit intimidated by c# so i'll stick with python for now ^^' i hope you keep learning and, most importantly, you keep enjoying it~

[@lukedavis6711]

Lol me too I'm learning java and it sent me here

[@impmadness]

Keep it up, and remember to try other languages like Java first in case you haven’t in order to get used to programming

[@johnmarks714]

@@impmadness Java really kicked my ass in highschool. The OOP is a bit much. I always recommend python to new programmers.

[@rigo7297]

This video was all I needed to buy the kit. Really excited! Can't wait. Thank you Ben!

[@f-73p21]

It's a great project to get into if you're interested in how computers work at a lower level. I bought the kit too and have posted an unboxing video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILbhWdnrsl4fK8

[@himehimine]

I am so excited for when I buy the kit and get to follow along!

[@rypedub7973]

I love the way you speak about programming computers and micro electronics. I learn more and understand better with every upload

[@MrGolakechelan]

You are a good instructor. I truly enjoyed your video . I'm a 76 year old tech from the days of 555. - and even I could understand what you were doing. Thank you

[@kogcyc]

This is such fun to watch. Thanks.

[@stackflowtwo6199]

Wow, nice finally found the video I was looking for. Step by step guide. thanks

[@bradleystach6275]

Ben Eater and the 6502, a match made in nerd heaven.

[@dannygjk]

I wonder if he ever programmed using the 6809 it's better than the 6502.

[@johnm2012]

I used to program in 6502 assembly language in the '80s but I had the benefit of an operating system and an assembler. It's a nice chip to program with some clever twists to get round the fact that it only has an accumulator and two index registers. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

[@madeinhvn]

I have always wondered how we went from microprocessors to computers and your channel has explained to me how. Been loving your videos

[@micah2936]

This is very well put together. You go step by step and make it so easy to understand. Thank you

[@meepk633]

Eater's Law: The number of breadboards in a video increases as the square of time in seconds.

[@maskedredstonerproz]

is that actually true or??

[@aathish04]

@@maskedredstonerproz sadly, no. Would've been brilliant though.

[@garydunken7934]

I never get tired of learning the microprocessor basic stuff, especially when Ben is doing it.

[@marvellmontoya]

I love your content, keep growing and keep learning

[@xkjw7019]

You are such a great explainer. It angers me how terrible my teachers were. I wish every kid gets to spend their childhood exploring things and having fun and not dealing with irresponsible adults who bully kids.

[@HypeBeast764]

I’m so glad developers are making these videos now! I’ve always wanted to program and design embedded systems and easy content like this is making it so much easier to learn.

[@marcelopicoli8824]

"NOP" came instantly into my mind when reading "EA". Even not having done anything in 6502 assembler in more than 10 years... Loved the video!

[@Chaos89P]

I didn't remember that EA was the value for NOP. Maybe it's because I only mildly dabbled in 6502 ASM?

[@BruceHoult]

My silly brain not only remembers than EA is NOP on the 6502, but also 4E71 from the 68000

[@HippieLongHaired]

The mostest funnest playlist on youtubest. Thanks Ben.

[@DiegoDiaz-ir4nd]

What an illustrative and well explained video!

[@TheArrogantMonk]

It is SO cool using that Arduino to analyze each clock step. It’s a gift to have the tools be so cheap and accessible to analyze and have such precise control over the circuitry. It really makes the “magic” of a processor become tangible. Makes all my nerdy senses tingle.

[@mikemargo]

Pat, to me this is a very astute observation, the cheap tool means this level of examination is easy, I build an elektor 6502 sbc around 1985. Never worked, I didn't have any meaningful tools to fault find... this is awesome

[@benforbes8840]

This was an incredible video, very clearly explained and very insightful! Thank you Ben.

[@im4485]

Hey Ben... This information is gold. Thank you.

[@purplemosasaurus5987]

I love this teaching style!

[@saxypie]

You are a very good teacher! I love the reverse engineering style of explaining. It’s like a fun puzzle instead of a dry lecture.

[@iMadScience]

This makes understanding how a chip works and understanding what steps to take for people to figure out how a chip works so much easier. Just follow the datasheet, explore, and eventually you'll get there!

[@big_b_radical3985]

Except that newer arm chips usually have thousands of pages of nearly useless garbage docs thrown together randomly. No wonder people are drawn to the simpler designs and better documentation of the past.

[@iMadScience]

@@big_b_radical3985 I'm a kid, I know nothing. I'm just saying.

[@thorstengonschior5603]

We started this workshop/tutorial as a 2 families project with kids and "grown ups" and I ran through the 7 parts of this tutorial early to check if this is actually working out. Took me almost the whole weekend to finish up, but... . I am ex TV technician and current automotive software engineer and I am blown away by this absolutely stunning workshop. This is the best training stuff I have ever seen in the field of embedded system development. Greatly tuned to ambitious beginners with very fine sense of what needs to be explained how often and to what detail up to managed leads into seeming pitfalls to trigger self analysis and actually succesfull diagnosis capabilities, which is absolutely required when assembling embedded systems. Nothing too much, nothing missing. Ben have many thanks for this masterpiece of enggineering education. I am looking forward running through this with our kids and having lots of fun and great learning experiences. Could not have done it in this quality myself! Btw. the development kits are absolutely worth it, carefully packed with love to the details. onyl customs is p.i.t.a. :D

[@f-73p21]

It's a great project to get into if you're interested in how computers work at a lower level. I bought the kit too and have posted an unboxing video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fILbhWdnrsl4fK8

[@rahmanmd8460]

Thank you for this. I am really happy to see some technical channel has this much views.

[@CosmJJ]

Ben, your tutorials are great! Thank you so much!

[@SuperFurry68A]

This is an exceptional series, Ben. Thank you so much for creating this. I've been reluctant to do anything regarding building my own computer (even though I know the 6502 reasonably well from a programming perspective), but your series has shown it's not anywhere near as scary as I thought.

[@pythondataschool5339]

If you would like to support my python data school, please like, comment & subscribe my channel. KZbin: kzbin.info/door/doN...

[@gauravkelkar8824]

You know it's hard when a simple hello world starts off with a 27min video and a multi part series... All things aside embedded C is the best thing I've ever learned, and my job as a web dev helps me appreciate this even more

[@jemdeweare6432]

Thank you , that is the info i needed to make eprom for my cmb64 and 128 , great video

[@johnhill4925]

Wow. What a great explanation. I remember the days of hooking up an 6502 chip to a CRO whilst studying Elec Eng at university back in the mid 90's - we definitely weren't allowed to hook the output up to a computer back in those days.

[@StarkTMA]

I stumbled across one of his CPU videos, And I'm about to watch this man's entire channel. The type of content I like to see

[@thefekete]

You're so lucky, I remember when I first found his channel... So many incredible videos waiting for me anytime I wanted! But now I've watched them all and have to wait for new ones😋

[@heartlessalice5801]

That was incredible, a week full of video about how to make an 8-bits computer. But everything must come to an end :') Anyway, have fun ^^

[@markkeilys]

@@heartlessalice5801 assuming you didn't follow along in the first place, starting the project yourself is a good excuse to re-watch them and follow along.

[@heartlessalice5801]

@@markkeilys I would love to, but sadly that will be out of budget for quite some time ^^ But I will definitely do it one day, thanks for the idea :)

[@woody412]

Good well presented videos Ben. I stopped doing electronic engineering 20 years ago to follow an alternative career but as I enter retirement I will get back into it as its such good fun.

[@lancelusero6709]

This is awesome to watch and learn from. Thank you for the content.