Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris (Project-Centered Course)

Build a computer, from NAND gates up

Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Nand to Tetris is a legendary project-centered course: you literally construct a working computer system — hardware and software — starting from elementary logic gates, culminating in a working game.

Who it's for

No formal level is set, but the project-based, build-it-yourself format rewards learners with some computing curiosity and patience for hands-on systems work. It's a long-running favorite with 243,185 learners.

What you'll take away

• Deep, first-principles understanding of computer architecture
• Hardware design through computational logic and microarchitecture
• How systems and software design connect back to hardware

It's less a career-credential course and more a genuine "how computers actually work" deep dive — the kind of foundational knowledge that pays off across an entire engineering career.