Bill Gates reminisces about the 50-year-old computer code that launched Microsoft, highlighting its crucial role in the personal computing revolution as the company marks its 50th anniversary.
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| As Microsoft celebrates its golden anniversary, co-founder Bill Gates fondly remembers Paul Allen and the intense effort and significance of the early computer code that started it all. Image: Gate's Note. |
Washington, USA – April 3, 2025:
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has taken a nostalgic look back at a 50-year-old computer code that proved to be the cornerstone of the global technology giant. In a reflective blog post released as Microsoft approaches its 50th anniversary this Friday, Gates, now 69, recounted the pivotal role this early program played in launching the company he co-founded with the late Paul Allen in April 1975.
Despite the remarkable advancements in computing over the past half-century, Gates still holds a deep appreciation for the foundational BASIC code he meticulously crafted on a teletype machine. This seemingly simple program, born from a shared vision with Allen to create the world’s first “software factory,” laid the groundwork for the behemoth that Microsoft would become.
Their journey was sparked by a January 1975 article in Popular Electronics featuring the Altair 8800, an early minicomputer powered by a then-obscure Intel chip. Inspired by this development, Gates, a Harvard freshman at the time, and Allen reached out to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the makers of the Altair. They confidently claimed to have developed software capable of running the hardware, a bold assertion considering the code had yet to be written.
To fulfill their promise, the duo focused on BASIC, a programming language originating from Dartmouth College in 1964. Their formidable task was to adapt it for the Altair without even having a physical prototype of the machine. Through two intense months characterized by relentless effort and minimal sleep, Gates successfully completed the program, which subsequently became the Altair’s inaugural operating system.
“That code remains the coolest I’ve ever written,” Gates expressed in his blog post, offering readers the opportunity to download the original lines of code.
This initial software proved to be the catalyst for a company that would fundamentally reshape personal computing. Microsoft went on to introduce groundbreaking software applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, alongside the widely adopted Windows operating system, which continues to hold a dominant position in the PC market.
“That was the revolution,” Gates emphasized in an accompanying video. “That was the moment that brought personal computing to life.”
Gates’ reflection on this significant milestone coincides with his approaching 70th birthday in October and follows the recent release of his memoir, which delves into his early life. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the philanthropic organization he established after stepping down as Microsoft’s CEO in 2000. While Microsoft navigated a transition period following Gates’ departure, it has since experienced significant growth and success under the leadership of current CEO Satya Nadella, now boasting a market capitalization of approximately $2.8 trillion.
In his memoir, Gates also revisited his complex and often competitive relationship with Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs, whose company is alsoAnticipating its own 50th anniversary next year.
“Fifty years is a long time,” Gates concluded in his reflection. “It’s incredible that the dream became a reality.”