Altair BASIC

The Altair BASIC is a Interpréteur of Computer programming language BASIC developed by the two famous founders of the company Microsoft, Bill Gates and his friend of school Paul Allen for the first PC compatible of the history of data processing: the Altair 8800 of the manufacturer MITS.

History

In 1975, the two pioneers of the Microprocessing , Bill Gates and his friend of school Paul Allen discovers the Altair 8800 in the American electronic review Popular electronic . A Microcomputer PC compatible based on the Microprocessor Intel 8080 or Intel 8080A sold in electronic kit to some thousands of specimens for the private individuals in 1975. He is regarded as the first Micro-ordinateur sold to the private individuals of the range of the PC compatible.

The two friends of school, old of 20 and 22 years, propose by mail at the company MITS to develop the data-processing Langage Altair BASIC for this machine to offer a convivial alternative to the Assembly language basic of the machine. ED Roberts accepts and the two friends develop to them BASIC in thirty days 24 hours a day while working with Boston on a simulator PDP-10.

Once the version at the point in October 1975, Paul Allen flies away for Albuquerque with the New Mexico to meet its customer and to make him a demonstration of their Altair BASIC successfully. Miraculeusement the test functioned of the first blow whereas their language is safeguarded on Ruban perforated and had never been tested on a truth Altair 8800.

Paul Allen and Bill Gates then founds immediately on the spot the company Microsoft and settles in a motel of the New Mexico to start their first marketing activity of development, while managing to negotiate 35 dollars per copy of their language.

Thereafter, Altair BASIC will be extended and carried by the growing team of Microsoft on other machines 8 and 16 bits, allowing the programs in BASIC a certain portability.

The Altair 8800 and its Altair BASIC did not survive a long time the formidable evolution of the Micro-informatique but remains from a historical point of view the first Micro-ordinateur and Computer programming language Micro-informatique sold to the private individuals as well as the starting point of the fantastic success of Microsoft.

Bonds and photographs Altair 8800

Altair 8800 www.altair32.com
Altair 8800 www.vintage-computer.com
Altair 8800 www.oldcomputermuseum.com
Interview of Bill Gates

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