Open-source release of the 48-year-old Microsoft BASIC programming language, originally developed by Bill Gates for the 6502 microprocessor.
Microsoft BASIC, a cornerstone of early personal computing, was first developed as a BASIC language interpreter for the Intel 8080 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, specifically for the Altair 8800. This pioneering software marked the beginning of Microsoft's signature business model.
Fast forward to 1978, and the 1.1 release of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 Microprocessor was a significant milestone. Commodore, who had licensed this port of the software, played a crucial role in its development. John Feagans, a Commodore engineer, collaborated with Bill Gates to fix issues with the garbage collector, a feature that was identified by Commodore.
The release of this version for the 6502 Microprocessor was instrumental in creating the BASIC interpreters for several popular computers, including the Apple II, Commodore PET, VIC-20, and C64, all of which were designed for the MOS Technology 6502 8-bit processor.
Commodore licensed this software for a flat fee of $25,000, a decision that put Microsoft software in the hands of millions of new programmers. This release built on the earlier version of GW-BASIC, which first shipped in the original IBM PC's ROM and later evolved into QBASIC and then Visual Basic.
The source code release of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 Microprocessor, available on GitHub under the MIT license, includes 6,955 lines of assembly language code. This MOS 6502 assembly code formed the foundation of BASIC interpreters that shipped with the aforementioned computers.
Microsoft characterizes the BASIC interpreter for the 6502 Microprocessor as one of the most historically significant pieces of software from the early personal computer era. Close derivatives of this BASIC ended up at the heart of several iconic computers, including the best-selling computer of all time, the Commodore 64.
The Microsoft Blog provides a history of its BASIC, stating it was the firm's first product. Today, the source code of this pivotal software is accessible to all, offering a glimpse into the origins of personal computing as we know it.
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