Now anyone can explore the machine

2026 update: the browser tools, showcase and challenge overview.

The physical computer is built, but sharing an 8-bit machine is easier if people do not need my workbench to try it.

My C++ emulator runs the 3RIC ROM and models the machine's memory and peripherals. The same core now runs in a browser through WebAssembly. 3RIC Studio adds an assembler, debugger, tutorials and a program gallery so someone can go from watching the machine to changing a program.

For the showcase, Built from Bits provides a short tour: a hi-res starfield, 16-color plasma, a rotating wireframe and an original six-channel musical sequence. The 65C02 executes the display and music code; the browser is the host, not an animation shortcut.

The distinction from the hardware footage is important. These recent programs are demonstrated on the emulator. Built from Bits targets 3RIC's VIA and sound hardware, but this is not a claim that I have run that new program on the physical board.

Start at 1x, click inside the emulator for sound, and try 1-4 to change scenes. Space pauses, M mutes, and Q/Esc returns to the monitor. Open the source, change something and run it again. A WOZ export packages the program; it does not change which machine the program needs.

The new 2:45 film collects the physical build journey for the Retrocomputing Challenge. It complements the design files and logs rather than replacing them.

Build highlight reel:

Interactive showcase: https://ebadger.github.io/3ric/hackaday.html

Open the source: https://ebadger.github.io/3ric/index.html?src=programs/hackaday.s#ide

Tutorials: https://ebadger.github.io/3ric/tutorials.html

Built to learn. Shared to explore.