NAND-16: a computer built from 277,248 NAND gates

Commenters discussed the NAND-16 project as a visually slick but technically familiar exercise: monocasa and matja pointed out that most of the gate count is ROM/SRAM implemented with NANDs, so the 277k-gate number isn’t the same as a transistor-level CPU. wang_li and ohazi debated transistor counts per NAND (with differing CMOS assumptions), while artemonster praised the smooth mobile visuals. btilly emphasized the obvious engineering point - NAND universality means any design can be converted into NANDs - and welcome_dragon and guiambros said the project would be impressive only if done manually rather than generated.

A larger split centered on authenticity and value. Retr0id, LarsDu88 and others suspected an AI agent produced the implementation and lamented that LLM-assisted work undermines the satisfaction and credibility of handcrafted projects; HarHarVeryFunny criticized the lack of physical build photos and called it an emulator of a vibe. socializer defended that reputation and honest disclosure matter and suggested manual projects still serve learning and community purposes, while phoghed and others remained skeptical and doubting of the claimed novelty. Overall the conversation divided between admiration for the demo’s polish and skepticism about its novelty, provenance, and real engineering worth.