Bill Gates has just taken a monumental step in sharing a piece of software history that changed the course of technology. In a heartfelt post on his Gates Notes blog, the Microsoft co-founder made the original source code that started it all publicly available. This marks a significant moment in both the tech world and for Microsoft as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The announcement has left many tech enthusiasts and historians marveling at the simplicity and innovation that sparked one of the most influential companies in history.
The "Coolest Code" Bill Gates Ever Wrote
While Bill Gates has written countless lines of code over the last five decades, he describes this particular source code as "the coolest code I've ever written." In a post that feels almost nostalgic, Gates shared a photograph of himself holding a large pile of paper that printed out the original Microsoft code. It's a snapshot of the past, illustrating how far computing has come. Gates reflects on the inspiration behind this early creation, citing a pivotal moment in 1975 when he and his Harvard friend Paul Allen saw the January issue of Popular Electronics. The cover featured the groundbreaking Altair 8800, a personal computer from a small company called MITS, which was revolutionizing the world of computing at the time. The two young tech enthusiasts saw the Altair as a potential game-changer, but there was one problem: the software they promised to deliver didn’t exist. At least, not yet.Creating the Altair BASIC: A Leap into History
Bill Gates and Paul Allen wasted no time in turning their vision into reality. "We coded day and night for two months to create the software we said already existed," Gates wrote. This frantic development led to the creation of Altair BASIC, a programming language that allowed users to program the Altair 8800. It was the very first product of what would become Microsoft—initially called Micro-Soft, before the hyphen was eventually dropped. In his blog post, Gates expresses pride in the software they built. "Computer programming has come a long way over the last 50 years, but I’m still super proud of how it turned out," he wrote, giving us a rare glimpse into his journey from Harvard student to the tech mogul behind one of the world’s most powerful companies.
A Look Back: The Birth of Micro-Soft
The story of Micro-Soft (later Microsoft) is one of the most iconic in tech history. What started as a small operation to write software for a single personal computer, the Altair 8800, eventually grew into a global giant. Gates’ decision to share this pivotal code not only offers insight into the technical breakthroughs of the era but also into the ambitious and daring spirit that drove the company’s early success. For those eager to see the code themselves, Gates made it available for download on his blog. This move is both a nod to Microsoft’s roots and a generous offering to developers, programmers, and tech fans who are curious about the foundation of modern computing.A New Chapter: Melinda Gates Opens Up in New Book
While Bill Gates' technical legacy continues to make waves, his ex-wife Melinda French Gates has also been in the spotlight this week. The release of her new book, The Next Day, is set for April 15, 2025, and it is already sparking headlines. In the book, Melinda opens up about her life after the couple’s divorce in 2021 after 27 years of marriage. According to People magazine, Melinda’s writing sheds light on the emotional toll the marriage took, especially as she grappled with disturbing dreams and personal turmoil. She recounts recurring nightmares where she saw her family on the edge of a cliff, teetering on the brink of disaster. Melinda wrote about her decision to leave her marriage in a way that many can relate to—making life-altering choices in the face of adversity. In the book, she also acknowledges Bill’s public statements about infidelity and his controversial meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which have made headlines in recent years. Though Bill Gates has expressed regret over those meetings, Melinda’s candid account provides her own perspective on the relationship and its complexities.