Gates Shares Historic Code After 50 Years

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, is offering a piece of tech history to the public: the original operating system code he and Paul Allen penned 50 years ago.

In a reflective blog post celebrating Microsoft’s golden anniversary, Gates reminisced about the frantic race with Allen to create software for the Altair 8800, sparked by a 1975 issue of Popular Electronics. This marked the beginning of what Gates calls the world’s first “software factory.”

The challenge? Delivering on a promise to MITS CEO Ed Roberts to create software for the Altair, despite not having written the code yet. Using the BASIC language as a foundation, they innovated to make it compatible with the Altair.

After two intense months, Gates finalized the code, which he proudly calls “the coolest I’ve ever written.” He is now providing access to the original program for download.

This foundational code powered the rise of personal computers and Microsoft’s suite of products like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the Windows operating system.

Gates, nearing 70, has been on a nostalgic journey, including releasing a memoir and celebrating the 25th anniversary of his philanthropic foundation. Microsoft, after initial struggles post-Gates, is thriving under Satya Nadella, boasting a $2.8 trillion market value.

Gates also reflected on his complex relationship with Apple’s Steve Jobs. As Microsoft marks 50 years, Gates, with an estimated $108 billion fortune, marvels at the realization of their dream.