Bill Gates unearths ancient 50-year-old computer code that 'reshaped technology'
Bill Gates has unearthed an ancient 50-year-old computer code that ‘reshaped technology’.
Gates wrote the computer code half a century ago and it changed the evolution of tech forever.
And while it might appear archaic now with the likes of artificial intelligence breaking ground, it was once pivotal to his company.
The co-founder of Microsoft celebrated his firm’s golden anniversary after it was first launched in April 1975.
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And in a blog post, Gates reminisced about how he and Paul Allen created the world’s first ever ‘software factory’.
Gates said: “In 1975, Paul Allen and I created Microsoft because we believed in our vision of a computer on every desk and in every home.
“Five decades later, Microsoft continues to innovate in new ways to make life easier and work more productive. Making it 50 years is a huge accomplishment, and we couldn’t have done it without incredible leaders like Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella - along with the many people who have worked at Microsoft over the years.
“Although I am excited to celebrate the anniversary, reaching the milestone feels bittersweet. I always love reflecting back on Microsoft’s history and dreaming about its future. But it’s also hard to believe that such a significant piece of my life has been around for a half-century.
“It feels like just yesterday that Paul and I were hunched over the PDP-10 in Harvard’s computer lab, writing the code that would become the first product of our new company.”
Talking about the code that changed everything in a video to accompany his post, Gates added: “That was the revolution, that was the thing that ushered in personal computing.”
As the billionaire gears up to celebrate his 70th birthday later this year, he admitted that he has been reflecting on the past, releasing his memoir at the start of the year.
In another post, Gates said: “But like many people my age—I’ll turn 70 this year—several years ago I started a period of reflection. My three children were well along their own paths in life. I’d witnessed the slow decline and death of my father from Alzheimer’s.
“I began digging through old photographs, family papers, and boxes of memorabilia, such as school reports my mother had saved, as well as printouts of computer code I hadn't seen in decades. I also started sitting down to record my memories and got help gathering stories from family members and old friends.
“It was the first time I made a concerted effort to try to see how all the memories from long ago might give insight into who I am now.”