How August 22, 1955, Changed the Course of Computing

In the summer of 1955, a quiet revolution took place in Santa Monica, California, that would shape the future of computing. It didn’t involve flashy technology or big announcements but something more fundamental: people coming together to share knowledge.

On August 22, 1955, following an IBM symposium in Los Angeles, representatives from seventeen groups that had ordered the IBM 704 mainframe gathered at the RAND Corporation. The result? The founding of SHARE, the very first computer user group.

The name “SHARE” was carefully chosen to encapsulate the essence of the group’s mission—to share information, ideas, programs, and solutions. In the early days of computing, things were far from user-friendly. Every step forward often involved countless hours of trial and error, but SHARE aimed to make that journey easier. By pooling resources and experiences, these early adopters of the IBM 704 mainframe helped each other navigate uncharted waters.

Imagine the scene: engineers, programmers, and tech enthusiasts gathered around, swapping stories of their challenges and breakthroughs with the new IBM 704, a powerful machine capable of executing complex tasks that were previously unimaginable. There were no manuals or online forums to consult—just a group of passionate people eager to push the boundaries of what was possible. It was in this spirit of camaraderie that SHARE was born.

But SHARE didn’t just stop at exchanging tips and tricks. The group quickly grew, both in size and influence. They began producing new software and documentation, building on each other's work to create better and more efficient systems. In many ways, SHARE was an early precursor to today’s open-source communities—places where collaboration fuels innovation and the whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts.

It’s easy to take collaboration for granted in today’s connected world, where help is just a click away. But in 1955, a user group like SHARE was groundbreaking. It set the stage for a new way of thinking in the tech world—one where competition and secrecy took a backseat to collective progress.

Looking back nearly 70 years later, it’s clear that SHARE’s legacy lives on. The principles of community, collaboration, and shared knowledge established that day continue to drive innovation in the tech industry. Whether through online forums, open-source projects, or user groups, the spirit of SHARE is still alive.

So, the next time you benefit from a piece of shared code or find the answer to a problem in an online community, take a moment to think about August 22, 1955—the day a small group of pioneers decided that in the world of computing, we’re all better off when we SHARE.