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NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

nandgame.com

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Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#31

Post by amelius »

ElHacker wrote: post #25

I got excited when I saw the title, then checked the URL and it is a software simulation / game of building a computer. I'm not denying this can be interesting, but I've been thinking for a while to get my hands dirty with hardware as a side project. (I'm a software eng by profession). I haven't really done a lot of research on this yet, but does anyone have any recommended guides/books/tutorials on how to get starte…

The first question you'll need to answer is if you want to build a computer from discrete gates, or if you'd rather glue large existing IP blocks together.

In the former approach, you won't get anything in a mobile form factor, as your computer would simply be too big. But you might learn more than in the latter approach.

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#32

Post by chrisdalke »

dghlsakjg wrote: post #28
ElHacker wrote: post #25

I got excited when I saw the title, then checked the URL and it is a software simulation / game of building a computer. I'm not denying this can be interesting, but I've been thinking for a while to get my hands dirty with hardware as a side project. (I'm a software eng by profession). I haven't really done a lot of research on this yet, but does anyone have any recommended guides/books/tutorials on how to get starte…

Check out Ben Eater on YT. He has a series where he builds an 8 bit CPU from components. And another where he builds a 6502 based computer from scratch. He sells kits to follow along, and explains everything along the way

Recommended the exact same thing -- I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought of his channel.

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#33

Post by rrwright »

phaemon wrote: post #19
carls wrote: post #2

I've done the Coursera course, Nand2Tetris, that inspired this website [1] and found it deeply intellectually satisfying and engaging. If anyone is interested in learning about the logical primitives that build up to a computer, and how they're implemented using logic gates, I would deeply recommend the course! ----------- [1] https://www.nand2tetris.org/

Seconded. And a quick note that this course is based on the book "The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer from First Principles (The MIT Press)"

A recommendation for the book. It was excellent.

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#34

Post by LeonB »

Should start from physics building up and up until you have subatomic particles, rising through many layers of abstraction until you are doping P and N type semiconductors .... starting with such a high level concept as “nand gates” is far too easy. /sarcasm.parody

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#35

Post by dane-pgp »

LeonB wrote: post #34

Should start from physics building up and up until you have subatomic particles, rising through many layers of abstraction until you are doping P and N type semiconductors .... starting with such a high level concept as “nand gates” is far too easy. /sarcasm.parody

Seriously, though, having a few (optional) levels covering from chemistry up to nand gates would really add depth to the game.

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#36

Post by userbinator »

IIAOPSW wrote: post #9

There was this ancient Flash game called "Engineer of the People" that was all about designing IC circuits (NPN and PNP junctions) in the Soviet Union for some secretive reason. I never beat the game and got to the reveal. IIRC it was by Zachtronics, the same guy that did Shenzhen I/O and infiniminer (the inspiration for Minecraft).

I remember that game like it was yesterday --- and then checked to see that it was created over a decade ago! I was hoping someone would make a more realistic sequel with something like CMOS, but haven't seen any since then.

On that topic, digital logic games have been around for a long time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky%27s_Boots

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#37

Post by fernly »

ElHacker wrote: post #25

I got excited when I saw the title, then checked the URL and it is a software simulation / game of building a computer. I'm not denying this can be interesting, but I've been thinking for a while to get my hands dirty with hardware as a side project. (I'm a software eng by profession). I haven't really done a lot of research on this yet, but does anyone have any recommended guides/books/tutorials on how to get starte…

Also James Sharman's channel[1]. He has built an 8-bit, pipelined, computer from scratch. He works at the level of TTL chips. Sharman is good at explaining what he's doing, but does not go down to the very detailed level of bit-by-bit explanation of Ben Eater.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/user/weirdboyjim

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#38

Post by Unesco88 »

ElHacker wrote: post #25

I got excited when I saw the title, then checked the URL and it is a software simulation / game of building a computer. I'm not denying this can be interesting, but I've been thinking for a while to get my hands dirty with hardware as a side project. (I'm a software eng by profession). I haven't really done a lot of research on this yet, but does anyone have any recommended guides/books/tutorials on how to get starte…

Look at the collections on the side bar.

https://www.electronicsforu.com/resources/half-full-wave-rec...

Re: NandGame – Build a Computer from Scratch

#40

Post by [deleted] »

ElHacker wrote: post #25

I got excited when I saw the title, then checked the URL and it is a software simulation / game of building a computer. I'm not denying this can be interesting, but I've been thinking for a while to get my hands dirty with hardware as a side project. (I'm a software eng by profession). I haven't really done a lot of research on this yet, but does anyone have any recommended guides/books/tutorials on how to get starte…

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