Bill Gates shares his original Altair BASIC source code for Microsoft's 50th anniversary — "The coolest code I've ever written"

This week marks the 50th anniversary of Microsoft (it officially turns 50 on April 4). At Windows Central, we’ve been reminiscing about some memorable highs and lows, as well as squandered chances, tactical errors, and more within Microsoft’s various domains.

The festivities are far from over! In honor of this momentous event, Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates has jumped into the action and revealed the original source code that significantly contributed to the company’s inception – none other than Altair BASIC. As shared on his Gates Notes blog, here’s what the generous billionaire had to say:

Prior to the introduction of Office, Windows 95, Xbox, or artificial intelligence, there existed Altair BASIC. In the year 1975, Paul Allen and I founded Microsoft, driven by our shared conviction that a computer should be available on every desk and in every household.

After fifty years, Microsoft persists in developing fresh methods to simplify life and boost productivity. Achieving this milestone would not have been possible without visionary leaders such as Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, as well as countless individuals who have contributed to Microsoft throughout the decades.

As a tech enthusiast, I’ve had the privilege of penning countless lines of code for my company, which has significantly boosted our success in software development, catapulting us to become one of the world’s most valuable companies, worth an astounding trillions. Yet, among all the code I’ve written, there’s a particular piece that stands out to me as the coolest – the Altair BASIC code.

In a nostalgic flashback, Gates pointed out that the creation of Altair BASIC was sparked by a full-sized article on coding in the January 1975 edition of “Popular Electronics” magazine.

The image on its front showcased the Altair 8800, a microcomputer engineered by MITS (Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems), that ignited Gates’ interest in coding and software creation.

Gates and his fellow founder, Paul Allen, contacted the company to propose a program that translated the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800. (or simply: They reached out to the company to pitch a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800.)

1. Option 1: The program offers a user-friendly platform for people to design custom software, similar to what Gates and Allen tirelessly worked on for extended periods, hoping to bring an existing concept to life, a feat that ultimately led to significant advancements in technology.

2. Option 2: The application simplifies the process of crafting unique programs, resembling the relentless efforts by Gates and Allen during countless sleepless nights as they endeavored to bring an existing software idea to fruition, eventually shaping the course of technological history.

The first creation of Gates and Allen under their new company was known as Micro-Soft initially. Later, they removed the hyphen from the name. Recently, sharing this iconic source code is an interesting choice to commemorate Microsoft’s anniversary, and it truly feels like something Bill Gates would do, as Thurrott puts it. I wholeheartedly concur with that sentiment.

If you’re interested, you can certainly print out the entire 157-page source code for your personal reference. However, keep in mind that it might not be particularly engaging for those who are not deeply invested or experienced with the subject matter.

2025-04-03 12:39

Bill Gates shares his original Altair BASIC source code for Microsoft’s 50th anniversary — “The coolest code I’ve ever written”

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