Unveiling Bill Gates’ Groundbreaking MOS 6502 BASIC Code: A Landmark in Open Source History
In a monumental move, Microsoft has recently unveiled the source code for the BASIC version designed in 1976 specifically for the MOS 6502 processor, a pivotal element in the early landscape of home computing. This development, as reported by The Register, marks a significant milestone in the realm of open source software.
Back in 1975, luminaries Bill Gates and Paul Allen crafted Microsoft’s inaugural product: BASIC for the Altair 8800, tailored for the Intel 8080 processor. The subsequent year witnessed Gates, alongside Ric Weiland, successfully migrating the language to the MOS 6502 platform. Notably, in 1977, Commodore acquired a license for this code at $25,000, embedding it within their iconic PET, VIC-20, and Commodore 64 computers. This strategic move catapulted the proliferation of home computers, with millions of units sold worldwide.
The newly released version 1.1 of this historic codebase comprises 6,955 lines of assembler code and is now accessible on GitHub under an MIT license. It encompasses a comprehensive BASIC implementation, featuring robust support for floating-point arithmetic, string and array manipulation, diverse math functions, input/output operations, and optimized memory utilization tailored for 8-bit systems.
Moreover, this codebase extends its support to a myriad of classic computing platforms, including the Apple II, Commodore PET, Ohio Scientific, and MOS KIM-1. Notably, a delightful surprise awaits enthusiasts within the codebase in the form of a playful Easter egg attributed to none other than Bill Gates, cleverly concealed within the labels STORDO and STORD0, as highlighted in a recent Microsoft blog post.
This momentous release not only pays homage to the trailblazing efforts of tech pioneers like Bill Gates but also underscores the enduring relevance and impact of historical software artifacts in shaping the contemporary technological landscape. By making this foundational code openly accessible to developers and enthusiasts worldwide, Microsoft has not only preserved a crucial piece of computing history but has also fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation that transcends generations.