Initialize the 8-bit computer memory with a program to be executed automatically on powering. This project is small extension of Ben Eater's computer (SAP-1 architecture).

This picture is the animated picture, wait for it.

Motivation

The goal of the project is to have an option of hanging the 8-bit computer on a wall, connect it to a power supply and see how a program is executed automatically without manually programming the memory.

The picture is lent from this Reddit thread.

Setup

The program was tested with the following systems:

• macOS Big Sur:
  • Arduino Nano:
    • Board — Arduino Nano.
    • Processor — ATmega328P (Old Bootloader).
    • Programmer — Arduino as ISP.

Instructions

Software

Clone the repository with the following command:

$ git clone git@github.com:dmytrostriletskyi/8-bit-computer-memory-init.git
$ cd 8-bit-computer-memory-init

By default, the Fibonacci number program is defined in the code file on 28th line in the exact same way it's done by Ben Eater in his video. If you want to change it, open the code file and change the program, otherwise skip this step:

$ vim +28 program.ino

Copy the program to the Arduino sketchbook folder with the following command:

$ mkdir ~/Documents/Arduino/program && cp program.ino ~/Documents/Arduino/program

Then connect Arduino to a computer, open and upload the sketch.

Schema

The wiring schema is illustrated below according to the following matching:

• A1 — the chip right from run or programming mode switch.
• A2 — the chip right from writting to memory button.
• A3 — the chip right from resetting computer button.
• D2-D9 — the chips right from the DIP switches for memory values.
• D10-D13 — the chip right from the DIP switches for memory address.