# 424: Between Midnight and 6am

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2022-08-11
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 424
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/424

## Summary

Gustavo Pezzi, an educator and founder of Pikuma, explains his philosophy of teaching low-level computer science through the simplicity of the Atari 2600 and 6502 processor. He details how using the Stella emulator and 6502 assembly allows students to grasp fundamental concepts like ALUs, memory, and bit manipulation without the noise of modern abstractions. Pezzi also discusses his work mentoring for Classpert's Building a Programming Language course and his broader educational offerings on physics engines and graphics from first principles.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=6) Introduction: Gustavo Pezzi and Pikuma
- [1:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=102) Lightning Round: Favorite Games and Processors
- [4:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=289) Teaching Atari 2600 and 6502 Assembly with Stella
- [12:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=739) Pikuma Courses: Game Engines, Graphics, and Physics
- [27:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=1636) Mentoring Classpert's Building a Programming Language
- [38:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=2303) Atari 2600 Optimization and Shadow of the Beast Port
- [50:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=3033) The Electrical Engineer Shortage and Industry Trends
- [59:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am#t=3568) Pikuma Platform, Bit Shifting Course, and Final Advice

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Pikuma (company)
- Atari 2600 (product)
- 6502 (chip)
- Stella (tool)
- Classpert (company)
- Shadow of the Beast (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview With Chuck Peddle - Charismatic Chipmaking Coryphaeus](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-03-20-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-charismatic-chipmaking-coryphaeus) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Chuck Peddle (Repeat, in memoriam)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-30-an-interview-with-chuck-peddle-repeat-in-memoriam) (The Amp Hour)
- [002 - Cheap And Easy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-08-30-002-cheap-and-easy) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Apple II controlled Synthesizer, Rust on Everything, New Pi Bootloader](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-02-10-apple-ii-controlled-synthesizer-rust-on-everything-new-pi-bootloader) (The Electromaker Show)
- [An Interview with Ben Eater](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-08-11-424-between-midnight-and-6am. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.