Interpreting the Apple Lisa Source Code as a Historical Source

In this presentation, I explore the Apple Lisa source code as a valuable historical source for understanding the technological and cultural developments of the early 1980s. The talk begins by addressing why historians should consider source code a legitimate and essential historical document, emphasizing its role in reflecting the cultural, social, and technical contexts of its time. By providing a brief history of the Apple Lisa and discussing its unique technical characteristics—such as its use of Pascal, object-oriented programming, and multitasking—the presentation illustrates how the source code can serve as a lens to examine broader technological shifts. I also outline methodologies for reading and interpreting source code as a historian, using tools like Visual Studio Code, prompt engineering, and persona strategies. Through these approaches, the presentation highlights the importance of understanding source code not only as a technical artifact but also as a cultural one, encompassing the ethos of coding, performance, and the collaborative work culture of its developers.