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The Altair 8800 did not ship with software. The act of programming it was the point.


:INFO
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.

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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.

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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.

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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

:NOTE
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.