This may be a stupid question, but why do this? Is this purely to learn how 8008 asm works? Wouldn't one be able to do that in an emulator just as easily? Maybe some folks are drawn to historic hardware I guess?
A HN user shouldn't have to ask "why?" for projects like this.
Regard it as an electronics equivalent of oldtimer cars. Some collect them, some want to preserve pieces of history, there's nostalgia, some like messing with 'antique' technology, some spend ungodly # of hours restoring them. And of course (if in working order) take 'm out for a drive on a sunny day.
Does it need explaining why some people do that?
Bringing old computers back to life, is more accessible than oldtimer cars. Cheaper, doesn't take as much space, no gasoline fumes, and portable so easy to bring to a meeting/event & show there.
I don't know the age of the author but many of us dreamed of doing this when we were younger. It's not surprising that some would eventually follow through as adults with vastly more resources.
It probably comes down to nostalgia and "just to see if I can actually do it" in many cases
An actual 8008 chip is a rare antique at this point. Some people collect ICs, either for nostalgia and amusement, and I guess a few as a serious investment. If you have one it's nice to have a circuit to put the chip in.
Electronically speaking, I'd note that the 8008 is early PMOS. Making it run is harder than your average 5 volt microcontroller (whether from the 1980s or today). Multi-phase clock, multiplexed address, data, and control bus, and a negative 9 volt power supply.
