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

Ben Eater

1.4M subscribers • 29 videos on Hallway

YouTube
  • Recommended by 12 people: 11 on Hacker News and 1 on Lobsters.
  • A classic. People kept recommending it from 2019 to 2026.
  • Presented by Ben Eater

Beginner. No background in the topic needed.

5.8M views7 years ago12 recommendations

HardwareSystems programmingEmbedded systemsCPUs and computer architectureRetro computing

Ben Eater demonstrates how to build a basic computer on a breadboard using a 6502 microprocessor and program it to output Hello World.

Learn how computers work in this series where I build and program a basic computer with the classic 6502 microprocessor. More info: eater.net/6502 Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=yl8vPW5hydQ Part 3: youtube.com/watch?v=oO8_2JJV0B4 Part 4: youtube.com/watch?v=FY3zTUaykVo Part 5: youtube.com/watch?v=xBjQVxVxOxc Part 6: youtube.com/watch?v=i_wrxBdXTgM Part 7: youtube.com/watch?v=omI0MrTWiMU Support these videos on Patreon: patreon.com/beneater or eater.net/support for other ways to support. ------------------ Social media: Website: eater.net Twitter: x.com/beneater Patreon: patreon.com/beneater Reddit: reddit.com/r/beneater Special thanks to these supporters for making this video possible: Alex Catchpole Armin Brauns BakerStaunch Beau-James Erion Ben Ben Dyson Ben Kamens Ben Williams Bradley Pirtle Christopher Blackmon Clayton Parker Coleman Daniel Tang Dean Winger Debilu Krastas Dominic Kulmer Dušan Dželebdžić Eric Brummer Eric Dynowski Erik Broeders Eugene Bulkin fxshlein HaykH Ian Tait Ivan Sorokin JavaXP Jay Binks Jayne Gabriele Jefferson Hunt Jimmy Campbell Joel Messerli Joel Miller Jordan Scales Joshua King Justin Duch Kent Collins Manne Moquist Marcus Classon Mats Fredriksson Michael Michael Burke Michael Garland Miguel Ríos Nathan Wachholz Nicholas Moresco Onion Sniffer Paul Pluzhnikov Peter Simard Randy True Robert Butler Sachin Chitale Sergey Ten SonOfSofaman Stefan Nesinger Stephen Smithstone Steve Gorman Thomas Ballinger Vladimir Kanazir xisente Örn Arnarson

Why it's here

12 people recommend this

What people say. Highly recommended as an exceptional, first-principles introduction to computer hardware, digital logic, and assembly programming.

awnon Lobsters • Recommends

“Hello, world” from scratch on a 6502
34View on Lobsters

showerston Hacker News • Recommends

On “The Story of the Team Behind the 6502”

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. link to this video link
View on Hacker News

cadence-on Hacker News • Recommends

On “Chuck Peddle Dies at 82; His $25 Chip Helped Start the PC Age”

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: link to this video
View on Hacker News

halotropeon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Clocking a 6502 simulator to 15GHz”

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. link to this video
View on Hacker News

halotropeon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Ask HN: What are some good resources to learn how electricity works?”

…me there was the book „Code“ by Charles Petzold2 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: link to this video 2: link…
View on Hacker News

throwaway47292on Hacker News • Recommends

On “Ask HN: Skill you want to learn in 2022?”

i would suggest to follow Ben Eater's 8 bit computer link to this video and would strongly recommend to build it (you can see the parts on his website link or buy the whole kit)
View on Hacker News

Night_Thastuson Hacker News • Recommends

On “Easy 6502”

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: link to this video They are incredibly fascinating!
View on Hacker News

fapjackson Hacker News • Recommends

On “SNES Cartridges and Enhancement Chips”

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 link to this video
View on Hacker News

jedimasterton Hacker News • Recommends

On “Build an 8-bit computer from scratch”

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: link to this video
View on Hacker News

halotropeon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Fritzing is an open-source electronic design tool”

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" link to this video
View on Hacker News

jgwil2on Hacker News • Recommends

On “CMSC 430: Design and Implementation of Programming Languages”

Ben Eater has a video series called "'Hello, world' from scratch on a 6502" that you might find interesting: link to this video
View on Hacker News

santadakotaon Hacker News • Recommends

On “What Happens When a CPU Starts”

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: link to this video 8-bit build playlist: link He also sells kits if one is interested in playing along.
View on Hacker News

TillEon Hacker News • Recommends

On “What we can learn from vintage computing”

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. link to this video
View on Hacker News

Joel_Mckayon Hacker News • Recommends

On “Ask HN: Books to learn 6502 ASM and the Apple II”

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. link to this video link Starting with a simple architecture is highly recommended. =3
View on Hacker News

u/nomisnesailein r/compsci • Mentions

On “How not to be the kid in "kids don't even understand computers nowadays" sentiment?”

…le transistor boolean logic and build up to tetris, i have not looked at it myself, but it sounds interesting https://www.nand2tetris.org/ Additionally there is also this guy where he build a computer from scratch, aswell as work with technologies at different levels. If i remember correctly he also sells a kit, so you can get it started [video The last option is to pick up some boring textbook on system architecture or take a course on it. In addition to picking one of the prior, it would maybe also be valuable to check out different programming paradigms, e.g. object-oriented, declarative and imperative, to make you an overall better programmer, with a great foundation. G…
7View on Reddit

u/1rustySnakein r/compsci • Mentions

On “quick question”

Let me direct you to Grace Murray Hopper. If you are looking for something more technical.
3View on Reddit