Bill Gates Reveals How a 50-Year-Old Code Launched Microsoft's World Revolution
Despite his advancing age, Microsoft Bill Gates, the founder, still warmly recalls the groundbreaking computer code he penned 50 years ago, which paved the way for a new era in technology.
Even though the code that Gates produced on a teletype machine might seem primitive when contrasted with modern AI systems, it was essential for founding Microsoft back in April 1975—a milestone that the company based in Redmond, Washington, will mark this coming Friday during its celebration of the event’s golden anniversary.
At 69 years old, Gates initiated the celebration with a blog entry reflecting on how he and his former high school companion—the late Paul Allen—struggled to establish the globe’s premier “software factory” following their read of an article in the January 1975 edition of Popular Electronics magazine. The piece was about the Altair 8800, a minicomputer designed to run on a small chip produced by what was then a relatively unknown tech firm called Intel.
The article motivated Gates, who was merely a freshman at Harvard University, along with Allen to contact MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems), the manufacturer of Altair. They assured the company’s CEO, Ed Roberts, that they had created software capable of allowing users to operate the hardware.
The only problem was that Gates and Allen had not delivered the code they had assured Roberts they would provide.
'The most awesome code I've ever penned down'
Gates and Allen addressed the challenge by adopting the BASIC programming language, which was created in 1964 at Dartmouth College. However, they needed to find a solution for ensuring compatibility between their software and the upcoming Altair computer, despite not having access to an actual prototype of the device.
Following two months of minimal rest while developing the software, Gates completed the code that laid the foundation for the Altair's initial operating system.
Gates stated in his blog post that this particular piece of code is still the most impressive he has ever developed, and it offers an option for downloading the initial program.
This code went on to form the basis of an enterprise that made personal computers ubiquitous in households worldwide. The company offered a range of software such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with the Windows operating system, which continues to drive the majority of PCs currently in use.
As he stated in the accompanying video with his post, 'That marked the revolution,' Gates explained about the code. 'It was what introduced personal computing.'
Part of Gates' nostalgia this year, as he gears up for his 70th birthday in October, involves recalling the code from back then.
The journey through nostalgia featured the launch of his memoir in February, which delved into his formative years as a frequently misunderstood youngster with limited friendships. It also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the charitable organization he established following his departure from the role of CEO at Microsoft in 2000.
The technology behemoth faced initial setbacks following Gates' exit, yet it has flourished under CEO Satya Nadella’s leadership and now boasts a market capitalization of approximately $2.8 trillion (€2.5 trillion).
In his autobiography, Gates delved into his tumultuous connection with the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who started alongside him in the personal computer industry; next year marks Apple’s 50th anniversary.
"Fifty years is a long time," said Gates, whose personal fortune is estimated at $108 billion (€98 billion). "It's crazy that the dream came true".