Thomas Kurtz, the computer scientist and mathematician who helped revolutionize computing by co-developing the BASIC programming language, passed away recently at the age of 96. His death marks the loss of a computing legend whose innovations brought computers to the mainstream.
He made them accessible to generations of students, hobbyists, and professionals. Kurtz’s contributions to the field, particularly his role in the creation of BASIC and the development of time-sharing systems, left an indelible legacy that continues to resonate in the technology we use today.
A Foundation in Mathematics
Born in 1928 in Oak Park, Illinois, Kurtz’s graduated in mathematics from Knox College in 1950. Later he pursued a Ph.D. in mathematics at Princeton University. Kurtz’s early work focused on statistics, but it was his encounter with early electronic computers that set him on a path that would shape the future of computing.
In 1951, while visiting UCLA, Kurtz worked on one of the United States’ first electronic computers, the Standards Western Automatic Computer. It was here that he wrote his first computer program—a moment that would be pivotal in his career. In a 2020 oral history interview at Dartmouth, Kurtz reflected on his humble beginnings in computing.
He recalled his early interactions with John Kemeny, his future collaborator on BASIC. “Neither John nor I were computer scientists. We were mathematicians,” Kurtz said, underscoring the fact that their vision for computing emerged from a mathematical rather than a technical background.
The Birth of BASIC
Kurtz’s groundbreaking work came in the 1960s when he, alongside John Kemeny, co-developed the BASIC programming language at Dartmouth College. At the time, computer programming was a specialized skill, often limited to experts who could navigate the complexities of languages like FORTRAN and ALGOL.
Kemeny and Kurtz wanted to democratize computing, making it accessible to anyone who could read and write. Their solution was BASIC, the Beginner’s All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, a language designed to be simple, intuitive, and interactive. BASIC’s ease of use allowed thousands of students to engage with programming for the first time.
This innovation was part of a broader initiative to introduce time-sharing to computers. Time-sharing allowed multiple users to access a single computer at the same time. In 1963, Kemeny applied for a grant from the National Science Foundation aiming bring a GE-225 computer to Dartmouth. He wanted to develop the first general-purpose time-sharing system. Grant reviewers were skeptical about using undergraduates to build such a system. However, despite this skepticism, Kurtz and Kemeny succeeded in introducing a breakthrough that changed how computers were used globally.
The Impact of Time-Sharing and BASIC
The Dartmouth Time-Sharing System, paired with BASIC, was launched in 1964. It allowed students and faculty to run programs on a mainframe computer by using terminals connected to the system. For the first time, users could interact with a computer in real-time.
This means that they received immediate feedback from their commands. This interactive experience was termed revolutionary by experts. BASIC soon spread beyond Dartmouth’s campus, reaching other institutions across the country.
Kurtz and Kemeny’s decision to make BASIC widely available played a significant role in the growth of personal computing. In the mid-1970s, the language found new life when Microsoft co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote a version of BASIC for the MITS Altair 8800, one of the first personal microcomputers. BASIC became a standard language for the burgeoning personal computer industry, reaching millions of users around the world. By Kurtz’s own estimate, even before the rise of companies like Microsoft, five million people had learned to program in BASIC.
A Legacy of Empowering Innovation
Beyond his technical contributions, Kurtz’s work embodied a vision of inclusivity in technology. At Dartmouth, he championed the idea of involving undergraduate students in the creation of software and systems that were at the cutting edge of computing. His pride in this achievement was evident when he remarked, “Nowhere else do I know of in the history of computing has something like this been done.” His work exemplified the transformative potential of computers when they were made accessible to all, not just to specialists.
Kurtz’s legacy extends far beyond the code he wrote and the systems he built. His efforts to simplify and democratize programming opened the doors for countless individuals to engage with technology in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years earlier. Today, BASIC is still in use on many platforms, and its influence is seen in the programming languages that followed.
Remembering a Visionary
Thomas Kurtz’s passing marks the end of an era in the history of computing. He is survived by his wife, three children, nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren, as well as a community of colleagues, students, and technology enthusiasts whose lives were touched by his pioneering work.
The world of computing owes much to Thomas Kurtz. His vision for accessible, interactive computing helped lay the foundation for the digital age. He will be remembered not only for the technical breakthroughs he helped create but also for his unwavering belief in the power of technology to empower individuals and communities. Through BASIC, time-sharing, and his enduring legacy at Dartmouth, Thomas Kurtz remains a towering figure in the history of modern computing.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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