Microsoft Marks 50 Years, Gates Shares Original Altair BASIC Code

As Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, co-founder Bill Gates reflects on the pivotal moment that led to the company's inception: the creation of Altair BASIC, the first product of Microsoft. In a nostalgic blog post, Gates recalls how he and Paul Allen developed the software in just two months, despite not having access to the Altair 8800 prototype. The original source code, which Gates describes as 'the coolest' he's ever written, has been made available for download, marking a significant milestone in personal computing history. Gates acknowledged the influence of the Altair 8800, which inspired their creation and represented a breakthrough in home computing. His reflections coincide with his upcoming 70th birthday and follow the release of his memoir detailing his career and philanthropic efforts. Microsoft has grown immensely since those early days, evolving into a leader in technology today.