Lecture Notes: The Evolution of Software in the Personal Computer Industry

Early Perceptions of Hardware and Software

• Post-WWII era focused on hardware as primary; software seen as secondary.
• Women like Grace Hopper contributed significantly to software development.

Personal Computer Industry Beginnings

• Early PC developments by enthusiasts, focused on hardware.
• Bill Gates differed; focused on coding over hardware.
• Gates recognized software's potential to dominate the computer revolution.

Bill Gates' Early Years

• Attended Lakeside School in Seattle, introduced to computers with BASIC language.
• Formed Lakeside programming group with Paul Allen and others.

Early Programming Ventures

• Worked on DEC PDP-10 by finding and fixing bugs.
• Gates and Allen scavenged for source code to learn programming.
• Developed a class scheduling program for their school.

College Years and Microsoft Formation

• Gates attended Harvard but preferred coding over classes.
• Paul Allen encouraged Gates to pursue software opportunities.
• Discovery of Altair 8800 (January 1975) sparked creation of Microsoft.

Creation of BASIC for Altair

• Gates and Allen developed a version of BASIC for the Altair computer.
• Successfully demonstrated BASIC program to Ed Roberts of Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS).
• BASIC became standard for hobbyist computers, contributing to Microsoft's growth.

Controversy Over Software Piracy

• Gates' open letter criticized software piracy among hobbyists.
• Microsoft BASIC widely distributed, unintentionally becoming standard.

Microsoft's Rise in the Software Industry

• Microsoft moved to Seattle; Gates arrested for speeding upon leaving Albuquerque.
• Secured contract with IBM to write operating system for new PCs.
• IBM's mistake allowed Microsoft to license MS-DOS to other manufacturers.

Significance of Software Over Hardware

• Hardware became commoditized; software became the key differentiator.
• Microsoft DOS became industry standard operating system.

Future Developments in User Interfaces

• Need for user-friendly graphical user interfaces (GUIs) identified.
• Transition from command-line to point-and-click interfaces foreseen as crucial for computing revolution.

Conclusion

• The evolution from hardware-focused computing to software-centric industry shaped by visionaries like Bill Gates.
• Microsoft's foundational role in transforming software into a dominant force in computing.