The Code That Started a Revolution
Even at 69, Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, still remembers the groundbreaking computer code he wrote 50 years ago—a piece of software that laid the foundation for the biggest tech empire in history.
Back in 1975, Gates and his childhood friend Paul Allen (who passed away in 2018) created a simple yet powerful program for the Altair 8800, one of the world’s first personal computers.
That code—written in BASIC—wasn’t just a program. It was the spark that ignited the personal computing revolution, leading to the birth of Microsoft on April 4, 1975.
Now, as Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, Gates is looking back at the humble beginnings of a company that would go on to dominate the tech world with Windows, Office, and AI innovations like ChatGPT (powered by Microsoft’s OpenAI partnership).
How a Magazine Article Changed Everything
The story begins in January 1975, when Gates—then just a 19-year-old Harvard dropout—and Allen read an article in Popular Electronics about the Altair 8800, a new mini-computer powered by Intel’s 8080 microprocessor.
Excited by the possibilities, they called Ed Roberts, the CEO of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS), the company behind Altair.
Here’s the crazy part:
Gates and Allen lied.
They told Roberts they had already developed software for the Altair—but in reality, they hadn’t written a single line of code yet!
Roberts was interested and gave them a few weeks to deliver the program.
The 2-Month Coding Marathon That Changed History
With no time to waste, Gates and Allen locked themselves in a room at Harvard’s computer lab.
They worked day and night, surviving on pizza and caffeine, writing code for a machine they had never even seen before.
The challenge? Making BASIC (a programming language developed in 1964) work on the Altair’s primitive hardware.
After 8 weeks of nonstop coding, Gates finally printed out the program on a teletype machine—a paper tape that would be fed into the Altair.
The moment of truth came when Allen flew to MITS’ office in Albuquerque to test the code.
Miraculously… it worked on the first try!
Gates later called it “the coolest code I’ve ever written.”
From a Small BASIC Program to a $2.8 Trillion Empire
That single piece of code did more than just run a computer—it created an entire industry.
Microsoft was officially born just a few months later, with Gates and Allen selling their Altair BASIC software.
Over the next 50 years, Microsoft would:
- Dominate PC operating systems with MS-DOS & Windows
- Revolutionize office work with Word, Excel & PowerPoint
- Enter the AI era with OpenAI & Copilot
- Become the world’s most valuable company (worth $2.8 trillion)
Gates’ Emotional Trip Down Memory Lane
As he prepares to turn 70 this October, Gates has been reflecting on his journey.
In a blog post, he shared:
“Fifty years is a long time. It’s crazy that the dream came true.”
He also released a memoir, opening up about:
- His lonely childhood (being a nerdy kid with few friends)
- His love-hate rivalry with Steve Jobs (Apple’s co-founder)
- His philanthropy work with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Why This Story Matters Today
Microsoft’s 50th anniversary isn’t just about the past—it’s about the future.
Under CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has:
- Invested in AI (ChatGPT, Copilot)
- Expanded into cloud computing (Azure)
- Overtaken Apple as the world’s most valuable company
Gates’ 50-year-old code was just the beginning.
Who knows what the next 50 years will bring?
Final Thoughts: A Legacy That Will Last Forever
Bill Gates and Paul Allen didn’t just write code—they wrote history.
From a small BASIC program to a global tech giant, Microsoft’s story is proof that a single idea can change the world.
As Gates himself said:
“That was the revolution. That was the thing that ushered in personal computing.”
And the revolution is still going on.
What’s Next for Microsoft?
With AI, quantum computing, and space tech on the horizon, Microsoft’s next 50 years could be even bigger.
One thing’s for sure: Bill Gates’ legacy is far from over.
What do YOU think about Microsoft’s 50-year journey? Let us know on Info@thetrendingpeople.com
