Ada Lovelace: The first programmer a century before the computer

The fascinating story of Ada Lovelace reveals to us that programming is not simply the domain of cables and computers, but a human skill for solving problems and achieving logical solutions. Although the figure of the programmer is often associated with someone sitting in front of a screen, the first person to write an algorithm never knew a computer, as she lived in Victorian England, more than a century before the advent of the first electronic machines.

The Science and Technology Revolution in the 19th Century

The first half of the 19th century marked a period of radical changes. The Industrial Revolution not only transformed the production landscape but also altered perceptions of technology. In this context, the steam industry powered factories and railroads, while applied mathematics began to be fundamental to the evolution of science and engineering.

In this intellectual and technological environment, Augusta Ada Byron, known as Ada Lovelace (1815-1852), was born, the daughter of the famous Romantic poet Lord Byron. Unlike her father, who symbolized the extreme of art, Ada received an education focused on mathematics and sciences, guided by respected academics such as Mary Somerville, one of the most influential scientists of her time.

Charles Babbage and the Analytical Engine

To understand the impact Ada Byron had in the field of computing, it is essential to mention Charles Babbage, a mathematician and inventor who conceived the Analytical Engine in 1837. Although the complete construction of this machine was never achieved due to the technological limitations of the time, its blueprints anticipated, with remarkable precision, the architecture of the first modern computers.

The Analytical Engine was designed as a universal automatic calculator and included:

• Processing unit (referred to as the 'mill'), capable of performing arithmetic operations.
• Memory to store numbers.
• Input and output system, which utilized punched cards inspired by the Jacquard looms.
• Sequential and conditional instructions, making it a general-purpose machine.

In summary, although electronics did not yet exist, the idea of a programmable computer had already been conceived.

Ada Lovelace's Unique Contribution

Ada’s connection with Babbage was formalized in 1833 when she first encountered his innovative ideas. Years later, in 1843, while translating an article by the Italian mathematician Luigi Federico Federico Menabrea about the Analytical Engine, Ada felt inspired to add a set of notes that turned out to be much longer and more significant than the original text.

Within those notes was the first documented computer program in history: a detailed algorithm to calculate Bernoulli numbers using Babbage's Analytical Engine. 

Although the machine was never built, the specifications were detailed enough to envision operational programs on it. Ada outlined these programs, meticulously explaining how to manipulate information within the "mill" and "memory."

It is noteworthy that the concepts Ada used in her notes—such as loops, variables, and sequential operations—still persist in modern programming. The essential difference is that, in her time, Ada used paper and pencil to work on a theoretical machine that existed only in her mind.

The First Recorded Code

In the famous Note G of 1843, Ada Lovelace included a table for the algorithm to calculate Bernoulli numbers. This document establishes:

• Each row corresponds to an operation that the Analytical Engine had to execute.
• Input variables, arithmetic operations, output variables, and the state of the “cells” (memory and results) are indicated.
• Finally, it orders the repetition of operations 13 to 23, which in modern terms is called a loop or iteration.

Regarding similarities with current programs, Lovelace's algorithm is characterized by:

• Step-by-step structure.
• Use of working memory.
• Intermediate results.
• Incorporation of a repetition mechanism.

Late Recognition of a Visionary

In this way, Ada Lovelace emerged as a programmer long before computers existed; her vision placed her a century ahead of her time. However, her legacy goes beyond writing a 'simple' program. 

Ada understood that the Analytical Engine was capable not only of performing numerical calculations but also of processing any kind of symbolic information, ranging from music to images, as long as they could be translated into rules and numbers. This concept reflects the nature of current digital files, which are merely sequences of bits—ones and zeros.

Throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th century, Ada Lovelace's contributions were overlooked or considered mere curiosities. It was only in the mid-20th century, with the rise of computing, that her notes were rediscovered and her impact on the development of computer science was appreciated.

Today, Ada is recognized as the first programmer in history and has become a symbol of women in science and technology. In fact, the programming language 'Ada,' developed in the 1980s, was named in her honor.

The legacy of Ada Lovelace reminds us of the importance of intelligence and creativity in programming, values that remain relevant in the field of modern computing. To learn more about historical and contemporary figures who have left their mark on science and technology, more content can be explored on my blog.