In this hands-on tutorial, we bring the core principles of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to life by implementing a lightweight, context-aware AI assistant using LangChain, LangGraph, and Googles Gemini language model. While full MCP integration typically involves dedicated servers and communication protocols, this simplified version demonstrates how the same ideas, context retrieval, tool invocation, and dynamic interaction can be recreated in a single notebook using a modular agent architecture. The assistant can respond to natural language queries and selectively route them to external tools (like a custom knowledge base), mimicking how MCP clients interact with context providers in real-world setups.!pip install langchain langchain-google-genai langgraph python-dotenv!pip install google-generativeaiFirst, we install essential libraries. The first command installs LangChain, LangGraph, the Google Generative AI LangChain wrapper, and environment variable support via python-dotenv. The second command installs Googles official generative AI client, which enables interaction with Gemini models.import osos.environ["GEMINI_API_KEY"] = "Your API Key"Here, we set your Gemini API key as an environment variable so the model can securely access it without hardcoding it into your codebase. Replace Your API Key with your actual key from Google AI Studio.from langchain.tools import BaseToolfrom langchain_google_genai import ChatGoogleGenerativeAIfrom langchain.prompts import ChatPromptTemplatefrom langchain.schema.messages import HumanMessage, AIMessagefrom langgraph.prebuilt import create_react_agentimport osmodel = ChatGoogleGenerativeAI( model="gemini-2.0-flash-lite", temperature=0.7, google_api_key=os.getenv("GEMINI_API_KEY"))class SimpleKnowledgeBaseTool(BaseTool): name: str = "simple_knowledge_base" description: str = "Retrieves basic information about AI concepts." def _run(self, query: str): knowledge = { "MCP": "Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard by Anthropic designed to connect AI assistants with external data sources, enabling real-time, context-rich interactions.", "RAG": "Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) enhances LLM responses by dynamically retrieving relevant external documents." } return knowledge.get(query, "I don't have information on that topic.") async def _arun(self, query: str): return self._run(query)kb_tool = SimpleKnowledgeBaseTool()tools = [kb_tool]graph = create_react_agent(model, tools)In this block, we initialize the Gemini language model (gemini-2.0-flash-lite) using LangChains ChatGoogleGenerativeAI, with the API key securely loaded from environment variables. We then define a custom tool named SimpleKnowledgeBaseTool that simulates an external knowledge source by returning predefined answers to queries about AI concepts like MCP and RAG. This tool acts as a basic context provider, similar to how an MCP server would operate. Finally, we use LangGraphs create_react_agent to build a ReAct-style agent that can reason through prompts and dynamically decide when to call tools, mimicking MCPs tool-aware, context-rich interactions principle.import nest_asyncioimport asyncionest_asyncio.apply() async def chat_with_agent(): inputs = {"messages": []} print(" MCP-Like Assistant ready! Type 'exit' to quit.") while True: user_input = input("nYou: ") if user_input.lower() == "exit": print(" Ending chat.") break from langchain.schema.messages import HumanMessage, AIMessage inputs["messages"].append(HumanMessage(content=user_input)) async for state in graph.astream(inputs, stream_mode="values"): last_message = state["messages"][-1] if isinstance(last_message, AIMessage): print("nAgent:", last_message.content) inputs["messages"] = state["messages"]await chat_with_agent()Finally, we set up an asynchronous chat loop to interact with the MCP-inspired assistant. Using nest_asyncio, we enable support for running asynchronous code inside the notebooks existing event loop. The chat_with_agent() function captures user input, feeds it to the ReAct agent, and streams the models responses in real time. With each turn, the assistant uses tool-aware reasoning to decide whether to answer directly or invoke the custom knowledge base tool, emulating how an MCP client interacts with context providers to deliver dynamic, context-rich responses.In conclusion, this tutorial offers a practical foundation for building context-aware AI agents inspired by the MCP standard. Weve created a functional prototype demonstrating on-demand tool use and external knowledge retrieval by combining LangChains tool interface, LangGraphs agent framework, and Geminis powerful language generation. Although the setup is simplified, it captures the essence of MCPs architecture: modularity, interoperability, and intelligent context injection. From here, you can extend the assistant to integrate real APIs, local documents, or dynamic search tools, evolving it into a production-ready AI system aligned with the principles of the Model Context Protocol.Here is the Colab Notebook. Also,dont forget to follow us onTwitterand join ourTelegram ChannelandLinkedIn Group. Dont Forget to join our85k+ ML SubReddit. Asif RazzaqWebsite| + postsBioAsif Razzaq is the CEO of Marktechpost Media Inc.. As a visionary entrepreneur and engineer, Asif is committed to harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence for social good. His most recent endeavor is the launch of an Artificial Intelligence Media Platform, Marktechpost, which stands out for its in-depth coverage of machine learning and deep learning news that is both technically sound and easily understandable by a wide audience. The platform boasts of over 2 million monthly views, illustrating its popularity among audiences.Asif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Augment Code Released Augment SWE-bench Verified Agent: An Open-Source Agent Combining Claude Sonnet 3.7 and OpenAI O1 to Excel in Complex Software Engineering TasksAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Meet Open-Qwen2VL: A Fully Open and Compute-Efficient Multimodal Large Language ModelAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Researchers from Dataocean AI and Tsinghua University Introduces Dolphin: A Multilingual Automatic Speech Recognition ASR Model Optimized for Eastern Languages and DialectsAsif Razzaqhttps://www.marktechpost.com/author/6flvq/Introduction to MCP: The Ultimate Guide to Model Context Protocol for AI Assistants

OpenAI has opened up access to its ChatGPT Plus service to all US and Canada college students at degree-granting schools. The offer lasts through May 31.

Lets be honest. When you think of a desk riser, you dont necessarily think visually beautiful. Weve tested enough office chairs and desks to know that finding something that checks the boxes of ergonomics and compelling design is a tall order. From electric-powered to lift-top options, the style of height-adjustable desks can be pretty blah. A desk riser is a means to get all the ergonomic benefits of a standing desk in a smaller package (not to mention a smaller price tag!) so you dont have to give up your entire office aesthetic.With its streamlined design, the Branch Desk Riser checks all of those boxes. Its minimal construction appeals to a wide range of design sensibilities but has all the ergonomic features of the best standing desks to make your workday more comfortable. The tallest and shortest members of our team put it to the test to see if the sit-stand desk riser style works for a variety of heights and office spaces. Here, the fine print on how it stacks up.Branch Desk RiserSpecsDimensions31"W x 2.5 - 16"H x 24"DMaterialsLaminated plywood, powder-coated aluminumColorsWoodgrain, walnut, white, silverWeight22 lbs.Weight capacity26 lbs.Warranty3 yearsAssembly required?NoDesignAesthetically, the Branch desk riser has a minimalist Scandinavian style that can blend into all kinds of home offices. Unlike most bulky black options on the marketand in line with the modern design of the brands sleek desk chairsit doesnt stick out like a sore thumb. The wood grain colorways (from birch to walnut, white to carbon black) work with what youve got going on to ensure a streamlined desk setup. While its not completely camouflaged, youre ultimately not sacrificing style for ergonomics here.The desk riser is an iteration of one of the brands bestsellers, the Duo desk, thats easily one of the most stylish adjustable standing desks out there. Sharing the same wood top and minimalist frame, it uplifts a WFH setup rather than drag it down with a clunky design.Constructed out of a single piece of wood, there are no harsh lines in its curved silhouette. An incredibly easy assembly process (simply take it out of the box!) further points to its thoughtful design. The downturned front comfort edge is a small but super-useful design detail. Not only does it give the desk riser a fluid shape, it also provides a natural resting point for your wrists, reducing strain.Our ExperienceLauren Arzbaecher, commerce producer: Im in a consistent battle with myself to try and have better posture while at work (one that I often lose). Sitting cross-legged, slouching, hunchingbasically, name any habit of bad posture imaginableeven an ergonomic chair cant stop me! A standing desk converter felt like a way to give myself a fighting chance to help my spine out without fully committing to a standing desk. Though, at five foot ten, finding a desk riser that is tall enough for me when fully extended is usually a challenge.Surprisingly, my height is a nonissue for the Branch riser. It reaches a level (admittedly at the top of its range) for me to easily rest my forearms flush against the desktop when I stand up without hyperextending my shoulders down.

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Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube803kSupport for amiibo is set to continue on the Switch 2! As part of this, Capcom will be releasing three new amiibo for Street Fighter 6.Nintendo initially revealed this information during the Switch 2 Direct and during day two of its Treehouse event it followed this up with a closer look at Luke, Kimberly and Jamie, along with the new amiibo cards for the game.As you can see, they're bigger than existing ones like the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Ryu and Ken amiibo:Image: Capcom, NintendoThese amiibo will allow you to save some of your data and settings, unlock exclusive rewards (like "music" and "device wallpapers") and transfer your configurations to other systems. In addition to this are 22-themed amiibo cards which will also unlock some exclusive rewards in-game.Listings for these new amiibo are starting to pop up on certain retailer websites in the US for $29.99 each. They'll be released alongside the Switch 2 and Street Fighter 6 on 5th June 2025. Punch up!Plus, new amiibo are on the way!Would you be interested in any of these new amiibo? Tell us in the comments.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesSwitch 2 Games Cost A Bit More Than You're Probably ExpectingYou'd better sit down for this...Hollow Knight: Silksong Will Launch On Switch 2 In 2025Still no specifics, mind youGameCube Games Confirmed For Nintendo Switch Online On Switch 2Including Zelda: Wind Waker!Which Nintendo Switch Games Aren't Fully Compatible With Switch 2?Keep updated with this guide from the Big N

VentureAI has opened a new era in venture capital according to Forerunner founder Kirsten Green TC Video11:34 AM PDT April 4, 2025 Forerunner has seen a number of high-profile successes, showing an ability to get ahead of consumer trends with investments in Oura, Chime, the Farmers Dog, and beyond in non-B2C companies. To get a sense of how that happened, and whats next for Forerunner in the AI era, TechCrunch Editor in Chief Connie Loizos spoke with founder and Managing Partner Kirsten Green during a StrictlyVC event in San Francisco.TopicsMost PopularNewslettersSee MoreSubscribe for the industrys biggest tech newsNo newsletters selected.By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.Related Venture How Kalshi helped prediction markets go mainstream8 hours ago

ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS - APRIL 4: CM Punk and Roman Reigns face off during SmackDown at Allstate Arena ... More on April 4, 2025 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Eric Johnson/WWE via Getty Images)WWE via Getty ImagesTo say Fridays episode of Smackdown in Chicago was eventful is an understatement.We saw two No. 1 contenders matches, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman shed light on one of the biggest storyline secrets in WWE over the past several months, Rey Fenix had a fantastic debut match against Nathan Frazer, and Charlotte Flairthe greatest female Superstar in historygot absolutely cooked on the microphone.Charlotte is headed for a Womens World Championship match with Tiffany Stratton, and quite honestly, their feud has lacked some pizazz and flavor. Things changed on Friday.Some fans believe it was a shoot, and theres good reason. In any case, Stratton smoked Flair as the latter was overtaken by a hostile Chicago crowd that intimidated her off her podium.Loud booswere talking Dirty Dominik Mysterio-level jeersappeared to have Charlotte shook. She couldnt get any of her lines out, and meanwhile, Stratton rocked her with barbs that pulled no punches.Are you done, Stratton asked as Flairs opening overture seemed abbreviated by the crowd. Wade [Barrett], did she get her Wooo in? Listen, Charlotte, your biggest competitor has never been within this ring, your biggest competitor has always been them. And no matter how hard you try, no matter how long youre out for, thats a battle that youll never win. And you love to put this facade on, like nothing gets to you, like youre above everybody else, and then youre crying on some boo-hoo talk show. Which one is it, Charlotte? The saddest part about all of this is, no matter how many titles you win, you can break all the records, but when its said and done, youll always come second to your daddy, Ric Flair. And at WrestleMania, youre going to come second to me, Tiffany Stratton. Do you hear that? Thats power.Consider this: this entire mic session happened after Stratton strolled to the ring wearing an outfit that was very similar to what Flair was wearing. No one commented on it during the broadcast, but it seemed like it was done to show up the older Superstar.ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS - APRIL 4: Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton speak during SmackDown at ... More Allstate Arena on April 4, 2025 in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Heather McLaughlin/WWE via Getty Images)WWE via Getty ImagesAs Flair continued to labor to get a word in over the booing crowd, Stratton went in for the kill.Whats the matter, Charlotte, cat caught your tongue? she asked facetiously.Charlotte literally backed into the corner and submitted to the crowds bullying, and gave Stratton the floor. The champion went in harder. Charlotte, at 25 years old, what were you doing? Stratton asked rhetorically. You were trying to be a volleyball player drinking in your daddys basement. And what am I doing at 25 years old, Im walking into WrestleMania as the WWE Womens Champion. You say this is just another match to you, seems like Ive gotten to you, Charlotte. And your WrestleMania record may be 4-3, and you may be the queen inside of the ring, but outside of the ring, you aint the queen of s###.As Stratton uttered the last line, her already nasally voice squeaked even more than normal, and Charlotte thought it might be time to try to regain control of the segment, but she was wrong.Stratton fired back, And for 16 more days, you get to call yourself WWE least favorite nepo baby, congratulations.Flair again attempted to inject her dominance: Nepo Queen! Number one nepo, baby. Again, Stratton rejected her attempt like Dikembe Mutombo in the paint.And when I beat you at WrestleMania, Charlotte, and when its all said and done, youre gonna be just like you are outside the ring, alone, Stratton said. What is that record? 0-3. WOOO!That was a shot at Charlottes recent divorce to WWE Superstar Andrade. Stratton hopped out of the ring after dropping that bomb, and Flair tried to deliver a parting shot.Tiffany, is that why Kaiser in my DMs?For those who are unaware, WWE Superstar, Ludwig Kaiser is Strattons real-life boyfriend.Wow. Here is a look at the video of the segment.There have been rumors Flair went off script to bury Strattons mic sessions earlier in the feud. Perhaps this was the young champions way to get payback. If so, it worked, and it made this feud a lot more interesting.Between the fiery darts Stratton let off and the way the crowd destroyed Flair, Im not sure Ive ever seen her have a worse day on WWE programming from a performance standpoint.Fans had a lot to say about the segment.One commenter on X said:"Tiff been getting grilled so bad they couldnt let Charlotte even speak a word.. Then tiff went below the belt with the divorces. That was kinda weak ngl"A second one said:A third commenter said:"Im convinced they don't like each other in real life... this about to become Bret Hart/Shawn Michaels "Sunny Days" real quick."A fourth commenter said:"That just brought some much needed life into this feud."I concur.Here is a look at all of the results from Smackdown.Rey Fenix def. Nathan Frazer via pinfallBerto will face Fenix next week on Smackdown.LA Knight def. Tama Tonga via pinfall.A tag team gauntlet next week will determine the No. 1 contenders for Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguezs WWE Womens Tag-Team titles.Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) def. vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) via pinfall to become the No. 1 contenders for the WWE Tag Team championships.Naomi def. B-Fab via pinfall. After the matchand beforeNaomi brawled with Jade Cargill. Nick Aldis made the Naomi vs. Cargill match for WrestleMania.Kevin Owens pulled out of WrestleMania 41 with a neck injury. It seemed legit. Randy Orton came out and hit Nick Aldis with an RKO when he learned he didnt have an opponent. Its clear, thatll likely change.Jacob Fatu def. Braun Strowman in a Last Man Standing match to become the No. 1 contender for LA Knights United States championship at WrestleMania 41.CM Punk revealed the favor he needs from Paul Heyman. He wants Heyman to be in his corner for the main event at WrestleMania 41, and the Wise Man obliged. Reigns grabbed Heyman and Punk attacked him from behind and hit the former with a GTS.This was an excellent episode and the latest great building block toward a historic WrestleMania.

In a nutshell: Microsoft is testing a redesigned Windows 11 Start Menu that ditches the dual-section design for a larger layout with everything on a single scrollable page, including All Apps, Pinned Apps, and Recommendations. The new Start Menu will also allow users to disable the annoying recommendations and customize the layout to match their style. The new layout is hidden in the latest Windows 11 preview builds in the Dev and Beta channels, but reputable tipster @phantomofearth spotted the feature yesterday. The single-page layout puts the Pins and Recommendations at the top, with the All Apps list below. Scrolling the page will allow users to browse the installed apps without clicking the "All" button.The best thing about the redesign is the ability to disable the Start Menu's 'Recommended' section, which many users don't like. To turn it off, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Start and then toggle off "Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists." However this comes with a slight caveat.The toggle will also deactivate the Recommended/Recent files tabs in File Explorer. Hopefully, Microsoft will de-link the Recommended toggle from the Recent feed in File Explorer in the stable build since that is a more helpful feature. Of course, there are no guarantees that the experimental switch will make it to end users.As seen on the first video above, the new Start Menu won't be drastically different from the existing one. However, it will be a little taller and wider to accommodate every section in a single view. The revamped design should provide a cleaner, more streamlined view by getting rid of the cluttered interface of the current Start Menu. // Related StoriesMicrosoft has yet to announce the redesign, but its inclusion in the latest Preview builds suggests the feature will likely roll out sometime this year. Either way, it's good to see Microsoft finally listening to customer feedback and doing something to improve the user experience on Windows PCs.

Recently, another writer here detailed how much they love the OnePlus Watch 3s battery life, and it got me thinking about the watch line and what it has to offer. One thing I discovered that it was currently offering was this deal on the OnePlus Watch 2, where you can get it for $210 instead of $300, saving you $90. The OnePlus Watch 2 is a smartwatch that also has a decent battery life, but theres a lot more to it than that. So, tap the button below to see the deal for yourself or keep reading to see more about the OnePlus Watch 2s battery life, what other features it has, and why we think this is one of the best smartwatch deals out there right now.If, like Mark Jansen, you find that the batteries tend to suck on even the best smartwatches, youre probably still going to love the battery life of the OnePlus Watch 2. In our review of the OnePlus Watch 3, the watch that killed other smartwatches for Jansen, we found that it gave about four full days of use on a single charge. The OnePlus Watch 2 has a 100 hours battery life claim, but what did we really find when using it? Our OnePlus Watch 2 review find that in-the-field usage didnt quite reach 100 hours, but still said you can easily expect three (or more) days of use per charge and highlights the Power Save mode which extends the watchs battery life by literaldays in exchange for not having an always-on display, Wear OS apps, or Google Assistant. If the battery life of the OnePlus Watch 3 is what excites you the most about it, use this deal as a chance to reexplore the OnePlus Watch 2.And of course, theres more to a watch than battery life. The OnePlus Watch 2 does sleep tracking, blood oxygen tracking (something not all Apple watches are evenallowed to do anymore), and it has a whole host of exercise modes with sports ranging from your standard jog to a badminton game. You can get your data in a no-frills app that comes at you subscription-free, another fine bonus.RelatedAnd the final thing to like about the OnePlus Watch 2? Its low price on Amazon right now. Usually this watch would retail for $300, but this deal gets it in your hands for $210. Thats a savings of $90 if you buy now. Be sure to tap the button below to make sure you get this deal while you still can.Editors Recommendations

DOS=HIGH Microsoft turns 50 today, and it made me think about MS-DOS 5.0 A story about an obsolete PC, an old library book, and a one version of MS-DOS. Andrew Cunningham Apr 4, 2025 3:37 pm | 49 The first version of Microsoft's logo, used between 1975 and 1980 (though early versions split "Micro" and "Soft" by putting them on separate lines). Credit: Microsoft The first version of Microsoft's logo, used between 1975 and 1980 (though early versions split "Micro" and "Soft" by putting them on separate lines). Credit: Microsoft Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn this day in 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded a company called Micro-Soft in Albuquerque, New Mexico.The two men had worked together before, as members of the Lakeside Programming group in the early 70s and as co-founders of a road traffic analysis company called Traf-O-Data. But Micro-Soft, later renamed to drop the hyphen and relocated to its current headquarters in Redmond, Washington, would be the company that would transform personal computing over the next five decades.I'm not here to do a history of Microsoft, because Wikipedia already exists and because the company has already put together a gauzy 50th-anniversary retrospective site with some retro-themed wallpapers. But the anniversary did make me try to remember which Microsoft product I consciously used for the first time, the one that made me aware of the company and the work it was doing.To get the answer, just put a decimal point in the number "50"my first Microsoft product was MS-DOS 5.0.Riding with DOS in the Windows eraI remember this version of MS-DOS so vividly because it was the version that we ran on our first computer. I couldnt actually tell you what computer it was, though, not because I dont remember it but because it was a generic yellowed hand-me-down that was prodigiously out of date, given to us by well-meaning people from our church who didn't know enough to know how obsolete the system was.It was a clone of the original IBM PC 5150, initially released in 1981; I believe we took ownership of it sometime in 1995 or 1996. It had an Intel 8088, two 5.25-inch floppy drives, and 500-something KB of RAM (also, if memory serves, a sac of spider eggs). But it had no hard drive inside, meaning that anything I wanted to run on or save from this computer needed to use a pile of moldering black plastic diskettes, more than a few of which were already going bad.Bear in mind that my knowledge of and exposure to computers before this was minimal, and my exposure to PCs had been nearly nilI'd played Oregon Trail on an Apple IIe in elementary school, and the few computers that were in my classrooms or computer labs at the time were Macs. So all I really knew was that this computer was old but it was ours, and I set about learning what I could about it, blissfully unaware of its obsolescence and the fact that the computing world was well into the Windows 95 era.The operating system diskette for this PC just happened to be running MS-DOS 5.0, so that was where I started.MS-DOS 5.0 is actually a fairly significant release of the operating system. Released in June 1991, MS-DOS 5.0 was the first version to include Edit and Qbasic; it was also the last version to be jointly developed by Microsoft and IBM before the two companies formally parted ways. It was a welcome corrective after the ambitious-but-busted MS-DOS 4.0 release, with new features and higher RAM requirements but few of the same compatibility problems. It was also the first version offered as a shrink-wrapped retail product that PC owners could buy as a standalone upgrade, which might explain why that old PC was running it in the first place. I distinctly remember these 5.25-inch MS-DOS 5.0 upgrade disks, since a set of them came with our first-ever computer. Credit: Internet Archive/Microsoft Armed with nothing more than a version number, the next time we went to our local public library, I hit the boring non-fiction shelves to try and find more information. My memory is fuzzy, but I think the reference book I found was Carolyn Z. Gillay's DOS 5 Fundamentals, because I remember it having a sort of toothpaste-green colored cover and that it came with disks that had sample files on them. Whatever book it was, the fact that I found a tome that just happened to be about the exact version of DOS I was working with felt lucky (it was not a very up-to-date part of the library).That book taught me how to do all the stuff I couldn't figure out on this horrible old PCsearching through files and folders, writing snarky journal entries in the Edit app, copying and formatting disks (and, crucially, checking them for errors so I could weed out the bad ones), writing batch files, and creating additional system disks so we could have backups. I had the free time and the elastic, absorbent brain that only a kid can have, and I quickly soaked it all up.The information I was acquiring was already outdated by the standards of the day. But a working knowledge of DOS remained useful for decades afterward. A couple of years later when we got our first Windows PC (another hand-me-down, a similarly generic 486DX-based PC that did OK with Windows 95 but buckled under the load of Windows 98), MS-DOS was still there under the surface, and knowing how to use it was essential for the inevitable OS reinstallations. If anything, knowing about the MS-DOS undercurrents lurking beneath the surface of those Windows versions helped keep me curious about the underpinnings of other electronics I used, something that led me pretty much directly to my first IT jobs and then to writing detailed and overlong articles about technology.Microsoft is far from a perfect company. Strong-arm tactics and anticompetitive practices defined the MS-DOS and Windows eras, and I have all kinds of misgivings about the company's push into generative AI and the current state of Windows 11. But I owe a lot to that first computer and the software that it unhappily, begrudgingly ran. And that's why I found myself thinking about my strange, nostalgic attachment to a particular version of MS-DOS on Microsoft's 50th anniversary.Other stuff to do and readToday, you can relive the experience of using all kinds of MS-DOS versionsas well as PC-DOS, DR-DOS, and many retro Windows versionsin your web browser using the emulators hosted at PCjs machines.For further reading, here are a few other Microsoft and Microsoft-related retrospectives from the Ars archives:The complete history of the IBM PC, parts one and twoThe Windows Start menu saga, from 1993 up through the launch of Windows 10.Exploring modern retro-computing with the Book 8088 and Pocket 386 laptops.The rise and fall of Internet Explorer, which was finally laid to rest in 2022."Too much and too soon," a look back at Windows 8Microsoft open-sources MS-DOS 4.00An interview on the 30th anniversary of FreeDOS, an operating system that keeps the DOS software running on newer hardware Listing image: Samuel Axon Andrew CunninghamSenior Technology ReporterAndrew CunninghamSenior Technology Reporter Andrew is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica, with a focus on consumer tech including computer hardware and in-depth reviews of operating systems like Windows and macOS. Andrew lives in Philadelphia and co-hosts a weekly book podcast called Overdue. 49 Comments