What is it?

This is version 2.0 of my Microcontroller Trainer. It is a simulated 4-bit microcomputer that you can program in machine language. It has 31 instructions, a keyboard for program and data entry, an 8x2 character lcd display for programming and program output, a speaker to generate sound, and non-volatile storage to save two complete memory contents.

Why did you make it?

When I was very young, my father gave me a Radio Shack kit that launched me into a lifetime of interest in science, engineering, and electronics. One of those kits was a microcomputer trainer. I was fascinated with this simple, yet flexible computer and had tons of fun and learned a lot while programming it. Computers today are so complicated and the high level languages we use today make so many people so far removed from how an actual computer works, that I wanted to come up with my own version of a trainer to offer to homeschoolers, science teachers, hobbyists, and anyone else who is interested in getting back to machine level programming.

I have written a comprehensive curriculum for the computer that introduces you to computers, binary counting, computer architecture, and programming concepts. It also has example code for every instruction as they are introduced. Download it in the SPECS section on this page.

What makes it special?

Programming in machine language forces you to have to think like a computer. You are in complete control of memory, resources, and timing. Having to track these things helps you understand how modern software programming works. Programming in machine language will make you feel much more comfortable with concepts like 'pointers and references.'

See the video for an introduction on how this computer works.

This has the exact same functionality as the version 1 model, but I use surface mount components that allow me to reduce the price and get rid of the pesky leads protruding on the back of the printed circuit board below the keyboard. I also no longer include a micro-USB cable since most people have these already.

I send out the fully assembled computer with a card listing all of the instructions and pertinent information about them. The computer is powered by a micro-USB connector on the board (USB cable not included). Download the curriculum from the 'Datasheet' link below.