The programming language Ada, is still used today! Her legacy lives on in this ISO-standard, object-oriented language found in embedded and safety-critical systems, including many developed by and for the U.S. Department of Defense. At engenium we’re proud to support this mission with engineers and technologists who continue to build on that legacy. We still actively recruit Software Engineers with Ada experience to support defense, aerospace, and national security programs.
Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, is celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer, an accolade she earned more than a century before the invention of modern computers. The daughter of the poet Lord Byron and the mathematically inclined Anne Isabella Milbanke, Lovelace was uniquely positioned at the intersection of the arts and sciences, which influenced her revolutionary approach to computing. Lovelace is best known for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early mechanical general-purpose computer. Her notes on the engine include what is essentially the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine, making her the first to recognize the full potential of computers to go beyond mere calculation. Lovelace envisioned a future where machines could manipulate symbols in accordance with rules and that they could act upon anything that could be symbolically represented, from music to images and beyond. Today, Ada Lovelace’s vision is realized in every software application and digital process that enhances our daily lives. Her foresight into the capabilities of computers to handle tasks beyond arithmetic laid the foundational concepts of modern programming. As we continue to advance in digital innovation, Lovelace's legacy reminds us of the boundless potential of interdisciplinary thinking and the critical role of women in technology’s evolution.