Electronic microfluidic systems are the right tools to aid us in the combinatorial synthesis, functionalization and programming of the first artificial cells. Biological cells are themselves micro- and nanosystems par excellence, with autonomous self-construction (metabolism), self-assembly (containment) and self-reproduction (heredity). Modern electronic systems are optimized with a universal and convenient serial programming interface. When equipped with parallel micro- or nanoscale actuators and sensors, electronic programmability can become an integral part of a complex chemical environment for artificial cells. From the perspective of computer science, these are embedded systems. They are special in allowing a novel form of evolvable hardware in which genetic information is shared between molecules and electronic memory.