Imagesource: https://youtu.be/mR1G9ZA2UfQ

How many people do you know who, when handed a binary file, can execute a hex dump using xxd and then explain in detail what that binary does?

Admittedly, with modern x64 or even ARM binaries, this isn't as straightforward as it once was. The complexity of even reduced instruction sets makes it a challenge to commit them fully to memory. However, manual disassembly of a binary is definitely doable in principle.

If one targets an older system, like the Commodore PET, the task becomes more feasible. The instruction set of the MOS6502 CPU is succinct enough to memorize. And this is precisely where Dave McMurtrie of the Commodore International Historical Society – also known by his handle @commodoreihs – steps in.

Rather than just feeding the PET binary of Space Invaders into a disassembler, he meticulously goes through the sources step-by-step using a debugger. In his latest video, he guides viewers around potential pitfalls like jumps, subroutine calls, and returns.

While this might not be groundbreaking or novel, it's undoubtedly intriguing to watch.