Reflecting on 50 years of Microsoft, Bill Gates looks back at the company’s origins. The Microsoft cofounder recently shared the code that marked the beginning of Microsoft. As Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary this month, a sense of nostalgia surrounds the historical code that started it all.
In a blog post, Gates reminisced about the significance of the code that laid the foundation for Microsoft’s first product – Altair Basic. This interpreter transformed code into instructions for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. Gates expressed his admiration for this piece of code, calling it the coolest code he has ever written. The journey from this code to Microsoft’s innovative products like Office, Windows 95, Xbox, and AI is truly remarkable.
Included in Gates’ post is a PDF containing the original source code for Altair Basic – a document spanning 157 pages. Gates shared intriguing insights, mentioning how late cofounder Paul Allen completed part of the code on a flight to the original Microsoft headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Gates also touched upon his career journey in his memoir “Source Code,” offering a glimpse into his childhood and notable moments in his professional life.
From his rebellious preschool days to recruiting Steve Ballmer to Microsoft, Gates shares personal anecdotes in his memoir. Notably, Gates reveals that to entice Ballmer to join Microsoft, he offered a 4% stake despite an initial agreement with Allen.
