What Programming Language Did Bill Gates Start With?

Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, initially started programming with the BASIC language. This was during his time at Lakeside School in Seattle, where he and his friends had the opportunity to access a computer. However, there were several other languages and platforms he worked with throughout his early years in programming.

BASIC: An Initial Exposure

Bill Gates introduced to BASIC while attending Lakeside School. BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) was a high-level programming language that was widely available and user-friendly, making it accessible to beginners. Although he didn't start with BASIC, his first significant experience with programming began through this language.

Writing the BASIC Interpreter for the Altair

It's important to clarify that Gates and his friend Paul Allen didn't invent a new language. Instead, they created a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. This was a significant achievement, especially considering that their code fit into 4K of memory—quite a feat during those early years of personal computing. This project marked the beginning of Gates' journey in creating software for personal computers.

Early Career and Languages Used

When Microsoft was a new startup, with just Gates and Paul Allen as employees, the primary language they used was Assembly Language. As the company grew, the use of different languages evolved. For MS-DOS, assembly language was still the choice, while C was the language used for applications. By the time Windows was developed, C became the primary language for application programming.

The PDP-10 and Other Languages

There is some debate about the specific languages Gates used early in his career. It's very likely that he used both Basic and FORTRAN on the PDP-10, a widely used system at universities and research institutions. He might have also used assembly language on the PDP-10.

When Gates began working with the Intel 8080 microprocessor, he focused on assembly language. He had likely learned the Intel 8008 assembly language first, so he could write programs for the Traf-O-Data computer that he and Paul Allen built. Learning the 8080 assembly language was a natural progression to writing the BASIC for the Altair, as the Altair system used the 8080 processor.

Source Code Acquisition

Bill Gates was known for his keen interest in source code. He was not afraid to dumpster dive (literally) to get hold of source code that could help him in his endeavors. This practice was common among early computer programmers who were eager to learn from the work of others and innovate their own projects.

Conclusion

Bill Gates' journey in programming began with BASIC, which opened his eyes to the world of software development. However, his proficiency with various languages throughout his career, including Assembly and C, contributed significantly to the development of Microsoft and the broader personal computing industry. The evolution of his language skills reflects the rapid advancements in computer technology and programming during the early decades of the digital age.