The very first programmer in the world

Computers and other computing devices are a huge part of our lives. With the help of such devices, we not only search for the necessary information or use useful programs, but also make purchases, communicate with friends and relatives, work, spend leisure time and much more. Today it is not difficult to scan a document or, for example, download your favorite melody. But even recently, humanity did not know such opportunities.

So, modern users can complain about the fact that the video file is loaded for several minutes longer than it should. Still some 30-40 years ago in order to watch the new film, it was necessary 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 to his place and give him good money for it. And this is only about entertainment. It's hard to imagine how much time was spent on making calculations and drawing up documents, on communication and obtaining important information. Today, all this is done for us by machines thanks to one main process - programming. Even if you look at a modern washing machine or multivark, then it is equipped with a simple, but still artificial intelligence. We use these devices almost every day, but we do not even think about it, thanks to whom it became possible. Today we will talk about people who have made our life easier at times and discovered to us an incredible world of programming code - programmers. You will find out who was the first programmer in history and where it all began.

The first steps to the program

It is generally accepted that only men have passion and abilities for computer technology . If you look at the list of the most outstanding programmers, only male names come into view. However, few people know that it is the woman who is the first programmer in the history of mankind. Who was this remarkable 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. Love to mathematics girl planted mother since childhood. The best scientists in the district where the young lady lived lived with her. Thus, her first teacher was the distinguished Augustus 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

In the history of information technology, one of the first is the name of Charles Babbage. This man worked on the theory of functions and the mechanization of the account. Babbage is rightly considered the progenitor of the first computer and is called the "father of the computer." He created the first digital machine and called it an analytical one. A notable event in the life of Ada Augusta is becoming acquainted with this outstanding inventor. The mother of the girl was well acquainted with him, and Babbage himself was genuinely happy with every new achievement in mastering Ada mathematical science.

Acquaintance with the analytical machine

Young talent happened to visit the "father of the computer" workshop. Visit to Charles Babbage, she did in the company of Mrs. de Morgan, the wife of her teacher of mathematics and part-time friend of the family. In her memoirs about this visit, de Morgan noted that all the guests looked at the analytical car with great amazement, for them it was something unusual and completely strange.

And only Ada Augusta, according to de Morgan, did not see before her anything supernatural. She carefully examined the machine, was able to understand the principle of its operation and appreciated the invention. So the first female programmer first got acquainted with computer technology. After this incident, the girl became even more interested in scientific work. She knew and believed that this invention was a step into the future and only the beginning of achievements that would be able to mechanize any processes. And, as we can observe today, has not lost.

The first programmer and his everyday life

At the age of nineteen, Ada Augusta is getting married. Her chosen one is Lord King, later - Earl Lovelace. At that time, the lord was 29 years old, and the family life of Ada proceeded happily and measuredly. The girl's husband supported all her scientific endeavors and even admired the fold of her mind. Spouses often attended secular receptions, but the young person was interested in something quite different. Even in the face of marriage, her association with Charles Babbage became closer and more cordial. The girl reminded Babbage of his dead daughter, especially since Ada was almost her age. "Father of the computer" also admired 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 bear superficiality and stupid people. She was demanding of herself and others. With a mathematical mindset, she was attracted to things that were not peculiar to women. The girl became a real genius of her time and devoted her life to science.

Ada Augusta does not stop in her scientific calculations

Over time, the first programmer was forced to move away from science a little. The reason for this was the birth of three children, and Ada had to spend all his time with his family. But her love for mathematics was so strong that she was not ready to sacrifice science for the sake of a quiet family life with her husband and children. When a 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, like never before, and is ready to go far in her developments. Babbage responds with a young scholarly letter, which indicates that at the present time he can not find her a worthy teacher, but continues to search. He also noted that her knowledge in the mathematical field is simply brilliant, and that he doubts whether she needs a teacher.

Study of Babbage machines

A little later Ada Augusta 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 Manibert publishes his article on the 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 later will make her famous in certain circles.

The first programs

Her first programs for Babbage's machines were the girl to compute the Bernoulli numbers. More specifically, Ada Augusta explained in her writings the solution of the system of two linear equations. Then for the first time such concept as working variables and their successive change in the program appeared. The girl was able to apply the assignment operator, which is still an integral part of even the most complex modern program. The second program, described in the comments to Manibert's article, was compiled by Ada Augusta for calculating trigonometric functions and included the work of the cycle. Recursive nested loops were the basis of its 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 a scientist's life

Ada dies at the age of 36. At the same age her father died from bloodletting. The father and daughter died because of one disease - cancer. Even though Ada Augusta tried to be treated, the last years of her life were painful. Every new calculation was increasingly tiring for a woman, but she did not stop doing science until her death. In honor of Ada one of the unique programming languages "ADA", two small cities in America and a college are named.

It's amazing that the first programmer in the world is a woman. But this young lady gave the world her own development, which became the basis for modern programming.