How was first computer programmed?

This is a fascinating question because the answer depends on what you mean by the “first” computer. Many people consider that Charles Babbage designed the first general-purpose computer. In 1837, he proposed the Analytical Engine. It was a mechanical computer and was never completely built during his lifetime. read more

The drivers had to have been programmed somehow. I know that the very early computers had switches and allowed you to flip the switch to indicate bits. I am wondering how the leap was made from switches to a way to get the CPU to read machine code without needing a computer program to tell it to do so. read more

First computer program Lovelace's diagram from Note G, the first published computer algorithm In 1840, Babbage was invited to give a seminar at the University of Turin about his Analytical Engine. read more