Who is Ada Lovelace – the first programmer in the world?

If anyone ever tells you that a woman can’t do anything, you may want to tell them about the impressive contributions women have made to IT.

IT – It’s a women’s world

If you’re unfamiliar with the key players in the world of computer science and information technology (IT), then you’re in for a surprise. Get ready for some interesting facts about technology and innovation:

While we often lean towards men as creators and inventors based on history and gender roles portrayed at different ages, the world of IT has an impressive collection of women who have played a key role in changing the field.

“A new, a vast, and a powerful language is developed for the future use of analysis, in which to wield its truths so that these may become of more speedy and accurate practical application for the purposes of mankind than the means hitherto in our possession have rendered possible.”

Ada Lovelace – the creator of the first computer program

Before we continue, here’s a quick overview of other impressive women in IT:

• Grace Hopper – Invented computing methods and devices like the compiler.
• Katherine Johnson – Advanced human space exploration.
• Margaret Hamilton – Developed programs that still influence how computers work today.
• Stephanie Shirley – Created a program which studies technology’s impact on social and ethical issues.
• Mega Smith – Promoted diversity throughout IT workplaces.

Each of these women deserves to be honoured for their amazing contribution to the world of IT and how it has impacted everything that runs online today.

The story of Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace was the daughter of Lord Byron, the poet, and Annabella Milbanke Byron. Ada never met her father, and in an effort to counteract the mental tendencies of Ada’s father, her mother, Annabella, placed a focus on music, French, and mathematics. Throughout her studies, Ada fell in love with mathematics.

She got advanced training from the mathematician-logician Augustus De Morgan, who was the first professor of mathematics at the University of London. Throughout her educational and social exploits, she became well acquainted with big scientists such as Andrew Crosse, Charles Babbage, Sir David Brewster, Charles Wheatstone, and Michael Faraday. She was also acquainted with Charles Dickens.

“We may say most aptly that the Analytical Engine weaves algebraical patterns just as the Jacquard-loom weaves flowers and leaves.”

In 1833, she met the mathematician Charles Babbage, who designed a calculating machine called the Difference Engine. Inspired by the prototype of the Difference Engine, she became good friends with Babbage. Babbage worked on a new project to create a more advanced machine known as the Analytical Engine.

In 1843, Lovelace was translating the Italian mathematician Luigi Menabrea’s paper on the Analythical Engine while also adding her own notes. She wrote thousands of words of her own notes and added them to the paper.

“In almost every computation, a great variety of arrangements for the succession of the processes is possible, and various considerations must influence the selections amongst them for purposes of a calculating engine.”

During this process, Lovelace realised that the Analytical Engine could carry out extensive sequences of mathematical operations. She wrote one such sequence on how to calculate Bernoulli numbers. Which today is regarded the first computer program among computer historians. Ada also speculated that this Analytical Engine could ultimately be used to perform operations that go beyond the scope of numbers.

Only a small piece of the Analytical Engine was built. And Ada Lovelace died in 1852. Despite her death, Ada continues to be known and respected within the field. With the early programming language Ada being named after her.

Courage and support

While there is no doubt that if Ada didn’t write the first computer programme it would have been written by someone else.

But at the end of the day, she was the first to do so, not to mention doing so a century before the computer was invented. While her program is not used practically anymore, it serves as a reminder of her work and where IT started.

Despite being from a wealthy family, Ada got a great education from the best tutors, which contributed to and influenced her work and success due to the shaping and support offered. Aside from her great friendships and support from people like Charles Babbage, Ada also received a lot of support from her husband, William King. Considering the fact that women were not allowed to enter the library, he would go and copy articles for her, showing a great deal of support and belief in Ada and her work.

Ada Lovelace Day

The second Tuesday of October is now known as Ada Lovelace Day. It was founded in 2009 by SUW Charman-Anderson and celebrates the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). With the aim to increase the profile of women in STEM and creating new role models to encourage young girls to go into STEM careers while supporting women already in these fields.

“I never am really satisfied that I understand anything because, understand it well as I may, my comprehension can only be an infinitesimal fraction of all I want to understand.”

Fun Fact: ADA, a cryptocurrency on the Cardano platform, is named after Ada Lovelace. People use the ADA tokens to perform transactions online with the Cardano public blockchain platform.

A legacy beyond code

Ada Lovelace's pioneering work in a way laid the foundation for modern computing. As a result, her ideas continue to inspire generations. Today, her legacy, as well as those of the thousands of other innovators, is reflected in the vast contributions of women across various industries, from science and technology to the arts and beyond.

Women's impact on iGaming, the IT industry, the arts, and every other major field in the world is evidence of their important and trailblazing work, driving innovation and creativity forward.