# An Interview with Ben Eater

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-05-27
- Length: 1h 17m
- Episode: 444
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/444-an-interview-with-ben-eater/

## Summary

Ben Eater, known for his YouTube series on building an 8-bit computer from scratch, discusses his journey from a networking career to creating educational hardware content. He explains how he designed the computer using TTL logic chips and breadboards to teach computer architecture, addressing the gap between high-level software and low-level hardware understanding. Eater also reflects on his time at Khan Academy, where he focused on educational theory and growth mindset, and details the community that has formed around his DIY computer kits.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=0) Introduction: Ben Eater and the 8-bit Computer Project
- [3:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=190) Building the Computer from Logic Gates and SAP Architecture
- [17:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=1032) Explaining Data Path, Registers, and Micro Instructions
- [34:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=2045) Community Feedback, Kits, and Design Shortcuts
- [47:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=2846) Career at Khan Academy and Educational Theory
- [1:00:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=3603) Mindstorms, Growth Mindset, and Game Design in Education
- [1:15:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater#t=4545) Future Projects and Community Engagement

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Ben Eater (other)
- Chris Gammell (other)
- Khan Academy (other)
- TTL (other)
- CMOS (other)
- SAP (other)
- Mindstorms (other)
- Logo (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [119: Do Your Neighbors Have Any Idea?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-09-24-119-do-your-neighbors-have-any-idea) (Embedded.fm)
- [Behind the Tech: Passion & Perseverance in Electronics Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-04-09-behind-the-tech-passion-perseverance-in-electronics-design) (OnTrack)
- [S6E41 James Davis | Living in Ukraine for $12/Day to Become An Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-10-10-s6e41-james-davis-living-in-ukraine-for-12-day-to-become-an-engineer) (Being an Engineer)
- [136: Let's Try Out Some Broccoli](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-01-28-136-lets-try-out-some-broccoli) (Embedded.fm)
- [492: Octopus Army](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-12-27-492-octopus-army) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-27-an-interview-with-ben-eater. 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 The Amp Hour.