All thinkers

Ada Lovelace: 2 ideas worth knowing

2 ideas from Ada Lovelace, each explained in a minute and credited to the original work. Free on Savvy.

• The first computer program was written a century before there was a computer to run it

  In 1843, Ada Lovelace translated an Italian paper on Charles Babbage's unbuilt Analytical Engine and added her own notes, three times longer than the original — including a detaile…

  — Ada Lovelace, Notes on L. F. Menabrea's 'Sketch of the Analytical Engine'

• The first computer program was written a century before any computer existed

  While translating an Italian article about Charles Babbage's proposed Analytical Engine in 1843, Ada Lovelace added her own notes three times longer than the original text — includ…

  — Ada Lovelace, Notes on the Analytical Engine

Five ideas worth knowing, every week

The week's best cards and a puzzle, credited as always. Free, unsubscribe any time.

Subscribe