Peter R. Jennings
Peter R. Jennings
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| Jennings, Peter R. | |
| Born | 1950 Bedford, England |
| Occupation | Software Developer, Founder |
Career
Peter R. Jennings is a Canadian computer programmer, entrepreneur, and early innovator in the personal computing era, best known as the creator of MicroChess, one of the first commercially sold software programs, and as the co-founder of Personal Software, the company that would later become VisiCorp and introduce the world to the groundbreaking VisiCalc spreadsheet.
Early Life and Education
Born in England, Jennings developed an interest in mathematics, computing, and artificial intelligence in the 1960s and early 1970s. He earned a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Alberta, and went on to pursue graduate work at the University of Waterloo, a major hub for early computing in Canada.
Jennings was fascinated by computer chess and AI algorithms, and this would become the foundation for his earliest and most influential work.
MicroChess: A Breakthrough in Commercial Software
In 1976, Jennings developed MicroChess, a chess-playing program designed for the MOS Technology KIM-1, one of the earliest hobbyist microcomputers. The program was an extraordinary technical achievement, fitting a functional chess AI into less than 1 KB of memory and offering users the ability to play a game of chess against their microcomputer at home— a novelty at the time.
What made MicroChess truly historic was how Jennings chose to distribute it. Rather than give it away in a magazine or user group (the norm at the time), he packaged it with a printed manual and sold it by mail order as Micro-Ware Ltd, making it one of the first software titles sold directly to consumers. MicroChess would go on to be ported to the Apple II, Commodore PET, TRS-80, and other systems, ultimately selling over 50,000 copies—a remarkable feat in the pre-software-retail era.
Founding Personal Software
In 1978, Jennings partnered with Dan Fylstra, a Harvard MBA and BYTE magazine editor, to form Personal Software, Inc., one of the world’s first dedicated software publishing companies. Their initial catalog centered around MicroChess and other early personal computing programs. Jennings provided technical and development expertise, while Fylstra handled marketing and business strategy.
Personal Software’s business model— developing, packaging, and retailing standalone software products—helped pioneer the commercial software industry as we know it today.
VisiCalc and the Rise of Personal Software
The turning point came in 1979, when Fylstra arranged for Personal Software to publish VisiCalc, an electronic spreadsheet program developed by Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston.
VisiCalc became the first killer app of the personal computer age, driving sales of the Apple II and proving that software could be the primary motivator for hardware purchases. Personal Software’s success with VisiCalc led to rapid growth and a name change to VisiCorp in 1981.
While Fylstra remained the public face of VisiCorp during the VisiCalc years, Jennings continued to be recognized as one of the earliest entrepreneurs to see the potential in commercial software.
Later Career and Interests
After stepping back from VisiCorp, Jennings continued to explore programming and entrepreneurial ventures. He remained passionate about chess, artificial intelligence, and user interface design, frequently advocating for software that empowered non-technical users. He also continued working on chess programs and other educational tools into the 1980s and 1990s.
Jennings is also notable for his early recognition of the power of packaged software— software that came with instructions, user documentation, and a professional presentation. His MicroChess manual was not only functional but also a marketing tool, helping to make the case that software could be treated as a consumer product.
Legacy
Peter R. Jennings holds an important place in computing history as one of the first developers to successfully commercialize personal computer software. His work on MicroChess made him a pioneer of both computer game development and software retailing. As co-founder of Personal Software, he helped build the infrastructure through which VisiCalc— and by extension, the personal computing revolution— could reach the public.
Today, Jennings is remembered not only as a technical innovator, but as a foundational figure in the software industry, helping lay the groundwork for how software is created, distributed, and sold.
