Bill Gates Releases Original 50-Year-Old Microsoft Code

Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of commemorations, including the release of their first product's source code, Altair BASIC, by co-founder Bill Gates. Gates fondly remembers the code he developed with Paul Allen for the Altair 8800 microcomputer, which helped launch Microsoft in 1975, marking the beginning of the personal computer revolution. This pivotal moment is credited with setting the foundation for a company that would become a leader in technology, thanks to innovations like Windows and Office. As part of the celebrations, Microsoft introduced the GitHub Copilot agent mode and Model Context Protocol (MCP) support, enhancing developer tools with proactive AI capabilities. The company highlighted its ongoing commitment to innovation through various technologies, with CEO Satya Nadella showcasing these advancements in a recent event. Gates also emphasized the importance of the initial vision of making computing accessible to all, which remains central to Microsoft's mission today.