"The Altair 8800 did not ship with software. The act of programming it was the point.
"KaiRenner26th of April 2026
Building an Altair 8800 Replica at Home
Building a working Altair 8800 replica at home using original schematics or modern kits like the MITS Altair 8800c. Covers kit options, assembly workflow, and programming the machine in 8080 machine code.
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Kit vs Scratch Build
The Altair 8800c kit from Altair Computer is the most accessible option. Scratch builds use original Intel 8080A chips or Z80 compatible substitutes with period-correct schematics from the MITS documentation archive.
Assembly Workflow
Follow the kit manual strictly for board population order. Test power supply voltages before inserting ICs. Use a ZIF socket for the CPU. Check all front panel switch connections before first power-on.
Programming the Machine
Enter programs using the front panel switches in binary. Load the MITS BASIC tape image via a serial terminal at 110 baud. Reference the 8080 programmer manual for instruction opcodes.
Build Readiness Checklist
All kit components verified against BOM
Power supply voltages confirmed before IC insertion
CPU seated correctly in socket
Front panel switch continuity tested
Serial terminal configured at correct baud rate
BASIC tape image ready to load
The Altair 8800c from Altair Computer includes a modern replica board that runs original 8080 software accurately. It is a complete kit with a chassis and front panel and is the most historically authentic option available today.