808 lines of BBC BASIC and a dream: Arm architecture turns 40
It’s been 40 years since the first Arm processor was brought to life at Acorn, and the milestone was celebrated in style at the UK’s Centre for Computing History (CCH). The event featured notable speakers, historical hardware displays, and a countdown to the anniversary, underscoring the massive influence that Arm architecture has had on technology today.
Key Points
- Arm’s first processor operated successfully on April 26, 1985, as part of the BBC Micro setup.
- Sophie Wilson, major contributor to the Arm chip, tested the processor with a BBC BASIC interpreter.
- An initial bug was detected only after the celebratory ambiance had set in, showcasing the challenges of early tech development.
- Arm’s architecture allowed chips to consume significantly less power compared to contemporary processors.
- The event featured insights from early Arm team members, noting that their approach to processor design was viewed as obvious at the time.
Why should I read this?
If you’re into tech history or curious about how we got to modern computing, this article’s got plenty of juicy bits about the revolutionary Arm architecture. It’s not just about nostalgia; it highlights how ideas from 40 years ago shaped today’s technology landscape. Plus, you’ve saved yourself the hassle of digging through history—it’s all right here!