I've compiled some simple C (microcontroller blinky) by hand. Then assembled and linked the output, and written the machine code into a HEX (Intel format) file. Then tested it on the micro. It's a rather fun exercise (Type 2 fun).
Fun with extra twists and turns you weren't expecting. Usually quite an adventure, some unintended learning and growth. Hopefully a story worth telling.
As opposed to the obvious doing an activity for fun.
