Can you imagine the impact of code you authored years ago if it laid the groundwork for a colossal operating system like Windows? Bill Gates surely can, which is why he has taken a nostalgic step to share it—and you can download it too!
Bill Gates Unveils Altair BASIC’s Source Code
As Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary on April 4, 2025, Gates sees this milestone as a perfect opportunity to reconnect with his beginnings and release the original source code that initiated the tech revolution.
In a heartfelt blog entry on Gates Notes, he disclosed a comprehensive 157-page document containing the source code for Altair BASIC—crafted with assembly language back in 1975. You can conveniently download the entire source code by scrolling to the end of the blog or by clicking this link.
Gates reminisces that Altair BASIC, which he fondly calls “the coolest code”he ever wrote, was inspired by an intriguing article in Popular Electronics about the Altair 8800 microprocessor powered by Intel’s innovative 8080 chip.
At the time, Gates was a Harvard freshman, and he, alongside Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, reached out to Ed Roberts, the visionary behind Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), which manufactured the Altair 8800.
The duo boldly claimed they had developed a BASIC interpreter for the Altair, a language that allowed users to easily write their own programs compared to the complexity of assembly code—there was just one problem—they hadn’t actually built it yet!
In an impressive feat of determination, they spent the following two months working tirelessly to bring their promise to fruition. Paul devised a program on a Harvard PDP-10 mainframe to simulate the Intel 8080 chip, allowing them to test their software without an actual Altair. Meanwhile, Bill was immersed in crafting the main code, while Gates’ friend Monte Davidoff worked on developing the math package.
The tireless effort paid off when they finally completed Altair BASIC. When they presented their work to Ed Roberts, MITS quickly agreed to license the software, marking the inception of Microsoft (initially known as Micro-Soft).Gates reflects that before there were innovations like Office, Windows 95, Xbox, or AI, there was Altair BASIC—a creation he still takes immense pride in.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why did Bill Gates release the Altair BASIC source code now?
Gates released the Altair BASIC source code as a way to commemorate Microsoft’s 50th anniversary, reflecting on the origins of the company and the software that shaped the future of personal computing.
2. How can I access the source code for Altair BASIC?
You can download the source code directly from the Gates Notes blog by scrolling to the bottom of the page or by using this link.
3. What was the significance of Altair BASIC in computing history?
Altair BASIC played a crucial role in making personal computing accessible to a broader audience by allowing users to write programs in a simple, user-friendly language, helping to establish a foundation for later software development and personal computing advancements.
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