In a remarkable nod to the past, Bill Gates recently marked Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary by unveiling the source code that laid the groundwork for the tech giant. This 157-page PDF, available for download on Gates’ blog, showcases the genesis of Altair Basic—a programming language interpreter crafted for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer. Gates fondly recalls this early work as “the coolest code I’ve ever written to this day.”
Altair Basic was born from the collaborative efforts of Gates, fellow Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and programmer Monte Davidoff. The trio dedicated themselves to coding “day and night for two months” in 1975, driven by a vision that personal computers would soon become ubiquitous. Their inspiration struck when they spotted the Altair 8800 on a magazine cover, igniting the belief that adapting the Basic programming language for its chip could transform the computing landscape.
Reflecting on their decision-making process, Gates explained, “We considered creating a similar tool called a compiler that translates the entire program and then runs it all at once. But we figured the line-by-line approach of an interpreter would be helpful to novice programmers since it would give instant feedback on their code, allowing them to fix any mistakes that crop up.” This thoughtful approach not only facilitated learning but also set the stage for the future of programming.
Following their innovative development, MITS opted to license the software from Gates and Allen, marking the inception of their new venture, Micro-soft. The full code document is now accessible, inviting enthusiasts to explore not only the technical details but also the early history of Microsoft. The accompanying web page features a playful design with animations and graphics that pay tribute to this retro coding project, creating a nostalgic experience for visitors.
