Computers Aren’t Black Boxes

I'm documenting my journey learning how computers really work, from logic gates to CPUs, with interactive tools and visual explanations.

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What Is a Computer?

Computers aren't black boxes: they’re predictable machines built on simple rules. Here’s how it all works.
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Who I am

My name is Sérgio Pimenta, and I’m from Portugal. I’ve been fascinated by computers ever since I first encountered one at around 7 or 8 years old.

I've always been curious — the kind of person who takes things apart to see how they work. For years, I wondered: how do computers really work beneath the surface?

I'm especially drawn to older computers. Their simplicity makes their inner workings easier to understand and reason about — something modern systems have lost.

This website documents that exploration: my experiments, findings, and conclusions. A log of what I learn so that knowledge isn't lost.

Why I Started This Project

I'm drawn to understanding how complex systems emerge from simple parts. I like rebuilding things from scratch — even if the result is simpler or slower — because that's how I truly see where abstractions come from.

I learn best by experimenting, visualizing, and documenting the process. By trying to understand how computers work beneath the layers of abstraction we take for granted.

That's why I created this space: to document my learning and help others understand computers from scratch — starting with transistors and logic gates.

Everything runs directly in your browser. No setup, no vintage hardware required. Just interactive tools that make systems programming accessible on any device.

My mission: Make systems programming easier to approach through interactive tools, visual tutorials, and hands-on projects—teaching the fundamentals one layer at a time.

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