Unveiling the Future: Bill Gates Reflects on the 50th Anniversary of Altair BASIC’s Creation

Bill Gates recently shared the original source code for Altair BASIC, a significant piece of software that laid the groundwork for Microsoft. This early program helped shape the personal computer era we live in today.

The Altair 8800, a groundbreaking machine, required a BASIC interpreter that could run within its limited memory. Gates wanted to make programming easier for beginners. He noted, "Using an interpreter provided instant feedback, letting users correct mistakes on the fly." This hands-on approach was crucial at the time.

Gates and his co-founder Paul Allen discovered the Altair in the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. Recognizing the dawn of the PC revolution, they jumped at the chance to be part of it. They imagined a world where personal computing was commonplace and wanted to create a product that would help people embrace it.

Gates and Allen worked quickly, crafting the software in just two months. They initially pitched the program to Ed Roberts, the founder of MITS, claiming it was ready to go. They faced challenges since the code had to be squeezed into just four kilobytes. As Gates recalled, "Extra memory often cost more than the computer itself."

One innovative solution was using a PDP-10 mainframe to simulate the Intel 8080 chip, enabling them to test their software without needing the actual hardware. Monte Davidoff joined the team, adding a math package to enhance the program’s functionality.

Early versions of BASIC, like the 4K BASIC, were quite basic—lacking many features we take for granted today. However, its subsequent iteration, 8K BASIC, introduced more advanced functions known to later home computers.

Gates described this process as a pivotal moment for Microsoft. Altair BASIC became the company’s first product, officially named Micro-Soft at that time. The legacy of this program is profound, setting off a chain reaction in the world of computing that has influenced countless innovations since.

The source code is now available as a 157-page PDF, showcasing the original fan-fold paper format. An annotated version of Altair BASIC can also be found on GitHub.

Gates recently expressed nostalgia, saying, "Seeing it even after all these years makes me proud. Programming has evolved immensely, but our effort at that time still stands out." This reflects not just a moment in history but also the relentless progress of technology.

As we consider the tech landscape today, it’s interesting to note the growth in software development. According to a recent survey by Stack Overflow, over 26% of developers today work with languages that didn’t even exist back in the 70s. This evolution tracks alongside innovations sparked by pioneers like Gates and Allen. Their story is a reminder of how early ideas can shape the future in unexpected ways.

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