Microsoft’s History: Bill Gates Shares Early Source Code in a Move

On April 4, 2025, Microsoft will celebrate its 50th anniversary. This is a significant milestone for the company, as it showcases its evolution since its inception. And to commemorate this occasion, Bill Gates is doing something unexpected. He is taking this opportunity to release the source code of the document that gave birth to Windows and the company itself.

According to Gates, before Office, Windows 95, XBOX, or AI in general, there was Altair Basic. In 1975, Gates stumbled upon a photo of the Altair 8800 computer on the cover of the popular tech magazine “Popular Electronics.” This image served as the catalyst for progress, prompting Gates and his fellow Harvard student, Paul Allen, to reach out to MITS, the company behind this system. They offered MITS a version of the Basic programming language adapted to work on the Altair 8800 processor.

However, there was a catch. The promised code didn’t actually exist at that time, despite what Gates and Allen had indicated to the company. Eventually, when MITS approved the project, Gates and Allen spent two months working on the code, which they later presented to Ed Roberts, the president and founder of MITS.

Fortunately, Roberts liked what he saw and agreed to license the Basic interpreter code for the Altair 8800. According to Gates, Altair Basic was the first product created by the recently dubbed “Micro-Soft,” which was later revamped to “Microsoft.”

This piece of source code was the origin of the company’s name and its entire history, which would go on to revolutionize the tech industry in the years to come. In addition to sharing the story, Bill Gates has also decided to make the entire source code used in creating this system available. The PDF document has been scanned from the printed paper dating back to 1975.

In total, there are 157 pages containing the code written in Assembly for the Intel 8080 processor, which powered the Altair 8800.

It’s fascinating to see how far Microsoft has come since its humble beginnings. From a photo on a magazine cover to a global tech giant, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable. This gesture by Bill Gates not only allows us to peek into the company’s early days but also highlights the importance of open-source culture and the power of collaboration in shaping the future of technology.

So, if you’re a tech enthusiast or simply curious about the roots of Microsoft, take a dive into this piece of history. Explore the code, marvel at the ingenuity of Gates and Allen, and appreciate the impact they had on the world we live in today. Who knows, you might even find inspiration for your own tech endeavors.

Background Information

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About Intel:

Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

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About Microsoft:

Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 in Redmond, Washington, USA, is a technology giant known for its wide range of software products, including the Windows operating system, Office productivity suite, and cloud services like Azure. Microsoft also manufactures hardware, such as the Surface line of laptops and tablets, Xbox gaming consoles, and accessories.

  

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