Computers and other computing devices occupy a huge part of our lives. With the help of such devices, we not only look for the necessary information or use useful programs, but also make purchases, communicate with friends and relatives, do work, spend leisure time and much more. Today it will not be difficult to scan a document or, for example, download your favorite melody. But until recently, mankind did not know such opportunities.
So, modern users can complain that the video file is loading for several minutes longer than it should. Some 30-40 years ago, in order to watch a new film, you had to go to the cinema at the appointed time. In order to listen to a beautiful melody about 100 years ago, one would have to invite a musician and give good money for it. And this if we talk only about entertainment. It is difficult to imagine how much time was spent on making calculations and preparing documents, on communication and obtaining important information. Today, machines do it all for us thanks to one main process - programming. Even if you look at a modern washing machine or multicooker, then it is equipped with a simple, but still artificial intelligence. We use such devices almost every day, but we don’t even think about who made this all possible. Today we’ll talk about people who have made our life easier at times and have opened up to us the incredible world of program code — programmers. You will find out who was the first programmer in history and how it all began.
The first steps to the program
It is generally accepted that only men have passion and abilities for computing . If you look at the list of the most outstanding programmers, only male names are striking. However, few people know that it is a woman who is the first programmer in the history of mankind. Who was this significant person?
Many of us have heard of such a famous English writer as George Gordon Byron. His daughter, Ada Augusta Lovelace (Byron), is the first programmer in the world. The mother instilled a love of mathematics to the girl from childhood. The best scientists in the district where the young lady lived were engaged with her. So, her first teacher was the outstanding August de Morgan, who was considered an outstanding mathematician and logician. It is these two components that lay the foundation for programming. They helped the girl in her subsequent scientific works.
The first programmer in the world - Ada August Byron
One of the first in the history of information technology is the name of Charles Babbage. This man worked on the theory of functions and the mechanization of counting. Babbage is rightly considered the ancestor of the first computer and is called the "father of the computer." He created the first digital machine and called it analytical. A significant event in the life of Ada Augusta is the acquaintance with this outstanding inventor. The girl’s mother was well acquainted with him, and Babbage himself was sincerely pleased with each new achievement in the development of mathematical science by Ada.
Acquaintance with the analytical machine
The young talent had a chance to visit the workshop of the "father of the computer". She paid a visit to Charles Babbage in the company of Mrs. de Morgan, the wife of her math teacher and part-time family friend. In her memoirs about this visit, de Morgan noted that all the guests looked at the analytical machine with great amazement, for them it was something unusual and completely strange.
And only Ada Augustus, according to de Morgan, did not see anything supernatural in front of her. She carefully examined the car, was able to understand the principle of its work and appreciated the invention. So the first female programmer first got acquainted with computer technology. After this incident, the girl even more fired up with scientific activity. She knew and believed that this invention was a step into the future and only the beginning of achievements that could mechanize any processes. And, as we can observe today, it has not lost.
The first programmer and his everyday life
At the age of nineteen, Ada Augustus is getting married. Her chosen one is Lord King, later - Earl of Lovelace. At that time, the lord was 29 years old, and Ada's family life proceeded happily and measuredly. The girl’s husband supported all her scientific endeavors and even admired her mentality. The couple often attended social receptions, but the young lady was interested in something completely different. Even despite her marriage, her fellowship with Charles Babbage became her more intimate and cordial. The girl reminded Babbage of his dead daughter, all the more Ada was almost the same age as her. The “computer father” was also admired by the girl’s abilities, they often exchanged interesting ideas and showed each other their calculations. Over time, they became not only colleagues, but also good friends. Ada could not stand superficial society and stupid people. She was demanding of herself and others. With a mathematical mindset, she was attracted to things not characteristic of women. The girl became a real genius of her time and devoted her life to science.
Ada Augustus does not stop in his scientific calculations
Over time, the first programmer was forced to move slightly away from science. The reason for this was the birth of three children, and Ada had to spend all her time with her family. But her love of mathematics was so strong that she was not ready to sacrifice science for a quiet family life with her husband and children. When the girl realizes that she can no longer exist without mathematics, she asks Babbage to find her a good teacher to continue her studies. It is at this moment that she is confident in her abilities, as never before, and is ready to go far in her developments. Babbage responds with a young scholarly letter in which he indicates that at present he cannot find a worthy teacher for her, but continues to search. He also noted that her knowledge in the mathematical field is simply brilliant, and that he doubts at all whether she needs a teacher.
Learning Babbage Machines
A little later, Ada Augustus begins to study in detail the computers designed by Babbage. She asks the inventor to send her detailed information, calculations and drawings of the device. The girl seriously believes that cooperation with the inventor can become more than productive.
The Italian scientist Maniber publishes his article on Babbage machines, and the first programmer undertakes to translate it. Together with the "father of the computer," she makes detailed comments on the publication, which will subsequently make her famous in certain circles.
First programs
The girl composed her first programs for Babbage machines to calculate Bernoulli numbers. More than anything, Ada Augustus explained in his writings the solution of a system of two linear equations. Then for the first time such a concept as working variables and their successive change in the program appeared. The girl was able to use the assignment operator, which is still an integral part of even the most complex modern program. The second program, described in the comments on the article by Maniber, was compiled by Ada Augusta to calculate trigonometric functions and included the work of the cycle. Recursive nested loops were the foundation of her third program.
The name of the first programmer, however, is rarely found in publications on the history of technological progress. For the most part, this is due to the fact that during the life of Ada, not a single program was launched. This happened after the death of this outstanding woman.
The last years of the scientist’s life
Ada dies at the age of 36. At the same age, her father died from bloodletting. Father and daughter died due to one disease - cancer. Even though Ada Augustus tried to heal, the last years of her life were painful. Each new calculation was increasingly tiring for a woman, but she did not stop doing science until her death. In honor of Ada named one of the unique programming languages "ADA", two small cities in America and college.
It is amazing that the first programmer in the world is just a woman. But this young lady gave the world her developments, which became the basis for modern programming.