The First Computer Algorithm
Recently I have been strengthening my algorithm skills to nail it during future job interviews. A majority of the developers and engineers I have come in contact with who I have asked “what is the most important thing I should focus on” has replied with: Algorithms. While I was practicing reversing strings, counting repeat values in an array, or sending responses based on how many people “liked” a post, I was curious about the history of algorithms. Through some searching, I was surprised to find that some algorithms date back as far as 1800–1600 BCE, I wanted to focus on computer algorithms. I found that the first algorithm designed for machines was thanks to this woman:
Ada Lovelace often know as “the first programmer” was a woman born in 1815. She was the child of a mathematician and a poet. She was raised learning mathematics, science and languages and acquired a lot of self control through those teachings. At around the age of 17, Ada met a man named Charles Babbage, who became a mentor of sorts for the young woman for most of her life. Babbage , who would later become known as “the father of the computer”, created the Difference/Analytical Engine, a machine used to make mathematical calculations.
Ada became obsessed with Babbage’s work with the difference engine, and while tasked to translate an article on Babbage’s machine from French to English, she added her own notes on the machine. These notes ended up being longer than the actual article itself. She theorized that the machine could take letters and symbols as well as numbers and that with some tweaking the machine could even repeat instructions in itself (later to be known as looping for modern programmers).
The attention that she received from her work with the Analytical Engine brought a lot of attention to her, and she became regarded as the first computer programmer.
I really enjoyed learning about Ada Lovelace and the things that she accomplished in her lifetime. It is a wonder that something that I practice every day has its roots in not only the mind of a curious woman, but also ancient history as well. It makes me want to start doing history checks on the origins of everything that I use day-to-day.
