Microsoft Co-Founder Shares Historic Source Code on Company’s 50th Anniversary
In a nostalgic tribute to Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, co-founder Bill Gates has released the source code that laid the groundwork for the tech giant’s inception. The 157-page PDF, now available on Gates’ personal blog, offers an unprecedented look into the origins of Altair Basic, a pivotal programming language interpreter for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer.
Gates, describing Altair Basic as “the coolest code I’ve ever written,” provides tech enthusiasts and historians alike with a rare glimpse into the early days of personal computing. The code, developed in 1975 by Gates, Paul Allen, and Monte Davidoff, represents an intensive two-month effort that would ultimately shape the future of Microsoft.
The team’s inspiration came from an unlikely source: a magazine cover featuring the Altair 8800. Their goal was to enable the microcomputer’s chip to run a version of the Basic programming language, a challenge that would prove transformative for the nascent industry.
In a strategic decision that prioritized user experience, the team opted for an interpreter rather than a compiler, allowing for instant feedback to novice programmers. This choice would prove instrumental in making computing more accessible to a broader audience.
The success of Altair Basic led to its licensing by MITS, marking it as the first product of the newly formed Micro-soft company. This early victory set the stage for Microsoft’s eventual dominance in the software industry.
Gates’ blog post goes beyond just the source code, offering additional insights into Microsoft’s early history. The web page itself pays homage to the era with retro-themed animations and graphics, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
As Microsoft celebrates half a century of innovation, this release serves as a reminder of the company’s humble beginnings and the enduring impact of its founders’ early work. The source code stands as a testament to the ingenuity and foresight that would come to define an entire industry.
