Uncovering the Roots of Microsoft: Bill Gates Shares 1975 Altair BASIC Source Code

Posted on by Techpad AI

The Birth of Microsoft: Unveiling the 1975 Source Code for Altair BASIC

In a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Microsoft, co-founder Bill Gates has shared the 1975 source code for Altair BASIC, the foundation on which the company was built. This remarkable code, crafted by Gates and his fellow co-founder Paul Allen, marked a pivotal moment in the history of personal computing.

The Genesis of Altair BASIC

In 1975, Gates and Allen spotted the Altair 8800 on the cover of Popular Electronics and recognized the potential for a PC revolution. They quickly developed a BASIC interpreter, designed to fit within the limited resources of the Altair 8800. The duo’s decision to create an interpreter rather than a compiled code was driven by a desire to provide instant feedback to novice programmers, allowing them to fix mistakes as they arose.

The Challenges of Development

Creating the software was no easy feat. Gates and Allen had to compress the code into four kilobytes to accommodate the limited memory of the Altair 8800. They also lacked the Intel 8080 chip, which the Altair ran on, so Allen developed a program to simulate the chip on a PDP-10 mainframe. Monte Davidoff, another friend, contributed the math package.

The Birth of Micro-Soft

The finished product, later known as 4K BASIC, was good enough for MITS to license the software. This marked a pivotal moment for Gates and Allen, as Altair BASIC became the first product of their new company, which they decided to call Micro-Soft.

A Look Back at the Code

The source code is available as a 157-page PDF of scanned fan-fold paper, rather than a convenient repository. An annotated disassembly of Altair BASIC 3.2 can be found on GitHub. Gates still takes pride in the code, even after all these years, and it’s easy to see why. The code may seem limited by today’s standards, but it was a groundbreaking achievement in its time.

Actionable Insights

This remarkable piece of history offers valuable insights into the early days of Microsoft and the development of personal computing. It highlights the importance of innovation, perseverance, and collaboration in the face of technical challenges.

Conclusion

The 1975 source code for Altair BASIC is a fascinating glimpse into the early days of Microsoft and the birth of personal computing. It’s a testament to the ingenuity and determination of Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who recognized the potential for a PC revolution and seized the opportunity to shape the future of technology.

Summary

  • Bill Gates has shared the 1975 source code for Altair BASIC, the foundation of Microsoft.
  • The code was developed by Gates and Paul Allen in just two months, with the goal of providing instant feedback to novice programmers.
  • The software was compressed into four kilobytes to fit the limited memory of the Altair 8800.
  • The code was licensed by MITS and marked the first product of Micro-Soft, the precursor to Microsoft.
  • The source code is available as a 157-page PDF, and an annotated disassembly of Altair BASIC 3.2 can be found on GitHub.

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