The Howdy Glossary

Altair BASIC, developed by Bill Gates and Paul Allen's company Micro-Soft, was a high-level programming language specifically created for the MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer in the mid-1970s. As one of Micro-Soft's earliest products, it significantly contributed to their establishment in the burgeoning personal computer industry. This programming language marked a milestone by achieving commercial success beyond hobbyist circles and played a pivotal role in popularizing home computing.

Featuring an accessible high-level design, Altair BASIC allowed users to interactively write and test code on the Altair 8800 microcomputer. Its user-friendly interface made it easier for individuals, including those outside traditional computer science fields, to engage with computing technology. This accessibility helped expand the market for home computing and inspired further software development for electronic devices during its time.

Despite facing competition from other early programming languages like Tiny BASIC and FOCAL as well as later contenders such as Pascal and Fortran, Altair BASIC distinguished itself through its versatile platform and interactive capabilities. It successfully commercialized personal computer software at a time when most products were aimed at hobbyists. By democratizing programming tasks on the Altair 8800 through an easy-to-understand language structure, it played an essential role in ushering in the era of home computing, establishing Microsoft as a key player while making significant contributions to mainstream adoption of personal computers for both home use and small businesses.