Meet Noah Williams: The 9-year-old Melbourne programmer who learned C++ at 6, joined Mensa at 7 and became the world’s youngest computer programmer
At an age when many children are just beginning to explore basic mathematics, Noah Williams was learning C++, one of the world’s most widely used programming languages. The Melbourne child began writing programmes to help with mathematical calculations at six, joined Mensa at seven after achieving an IQ score in the 99.9th percentile and later set a Guinness World Records title. On 8 August 2025, when he was eight years and 307 days old, an independent firm published one of Noah’s programmes, making him the youngest computer programmer recognised by Guinness World Records. As featured in Guinness World Records’ 2027 Young Achievers, Noah’s interests now extend beyond computer code to robotics and drones, offering a glimpse of how quickly a child’s curiosity can grow into professional-level technical work.Love of numbersNoah’s first exposure to programming was through math. Programming was not a new subject to him, but a means to do calculations and search for patterns. Programming enabled him to tell a computer what to do and then observe what happened. C++ is not usually thought of as a language for beginners. It is a powerful and general-purpose language used in software, games, engineering, finance, and scientific applications. It demands careful attention because minor mistakes in syntax or logic can cause a program to malfunction. At six, Noah began learning the language and creating programmes to assist with mathematical calculations. The achievement was not simply that he could type code. To write a functioning programme, he had to understand sequences, conditions, variables and the relationship between an instruction and its outcome. Kids tend to learn in bursts of curiosity . They become deeply interested in things that fascinate them .In Noah’s case, mathematics and programming provided a framework for investigating questions and building solutions.Joining Mensa at sevenBy the age of seven, Noah had joined Mensa, an international high IQ society. Guinness World Records reported that he achieved an IQ score in the 99.9th percentile. An intelligence test result does not explain everything about a child’s abilities or future. Programming also requires patience, creativity, persistence and the willingness to revise an idea when it does not work. Noah’s story includes those practical qualities as much as the numerical achievement. Learning C++ at a young age suggests that he was able to engage with abstract concepts earlier than many children. But ability alone does not create a working programme. He would also have needed opportunities to practise, access to suitable technology and support from adults who recognised and encouraged his interests. Mensa membership became one milestone in his development, but it was the continued application of his skills that eventually led to the Guinness record.How he set the recordGuinness World Records defines the record as the youngest person to programme computers. Its criteria describe a programmer as someone who develops and writes computer programmes, while a programme is a set of instructions written in a language that a computer can understand and execute. Noah met that standard when one of his programmes was published by an independent firm. The publication date was 8 August 2025, when Noah was eight years and 307 days old. Guinness lists the record location as Melbourne, Australia, and records the achievement under the title “youngest professional computer programmer.”The distinction between learning to code and having a programme published is important. Many children experiment with programming through educational platforms, games and simple projects. Noah’s record required evidence that his work had reached a professional level and had been published independently. The achievement does not mean he was the first child ever to write code. It means Guinness verified him under a specific record category based on his age and the publication of his programme.From calculations to roboticsNoah’s interests have expanded beyond traditional computer programming. Guinness World Records’ Young Achievers profile says he has also worked with robots and drones. These fields build on the same principles as software development but apply them to physical systems. A robot may use code to respond to sensors, move its parts or complete a task. A drone can rely on programming for navigation, stabilisation, image capture and automated flight. Working with hardware introduces new challenges. Code has to work with motors, cameras, batteries and sensors, but the physical world is unpredictable. A program running in a simulation may behave differently when a robot crashes into an obstacle, or a drone runs into wind. For Noah, moving from screen-based programming to machines is a natural extension of his curiosity. He can write instructions, see how a device responds and change the design. It’s a direct and visible mix of math, engineering and programming.What makes young programmers differentA child who starts programming early may develop a different relationship with technology. Instead of seeing computers as just devices for entertainment or communication, the child may view them as tools to build systems and solve problems. That perspective can encourage experimentation. A young programmer may ask how a game works, how a drone knows where to fly or how a computer can complete a calculation. Each question can lead to another project. However, it is important not to turn exceptional children into unrealistic symbols. Young programmers still need time to play, rest and develop socially. Their interests should be encouraged, but not by turning every activity into a competition or by demanding constant achievement. Noah’s record is a recognition of a specific accomplishment, not a measure of his entire identity. The most valuable aspect of his story may be the opportunity to keep exploring rather than the title itself.The role of supportTechnical talent develops within an environment. Noah likely benefited from access to computers, teaching resources and adults willing to answer questions or find appropriate challenges. Children can be very curious, but without encouragement and practical opportunities, that curiosity may go unexplored. Families and schools can help young programmers by providing structured opportunities for learning but still leaving room for independent discovery. Beginner tools can introduce programming concepts, and more advanced languages like C++ can be introduced when the child is ready for greater complexity. Mentors can also help young students understand that failure is normal. A programme that does not run is not necessarily a bad idea. Debugging teaches patience, logic and the ability to identify mistakes without giving up. The same support can help children from less advantaged backgrounds. Access to computers, broadband, clubs and coding education is uneven, and talent exists in every community. Expanding opportunities is essential if more young people are to discover their abilities.Recognition in Guinness World Records 2027Noah is featured among the Young Achievers in Guinness World Records 2027, a group of under-16-year-olds recognised for unusual accomplishments. Guinness describes the group as young people who have shown that age is not an obstacle to achievement. Being included alongside other young record holders places Noah’s technical work in a broader context. The group includes children and teenagers who have pursued achievements in different fields, demonstrating that young people can make meaningful contributions in science, sport, performance and creative work. The recognition also introduces his story to audiences who may not normally follow computer programming. A record title can make a technical achievement easier to understand and may encourage other children to try coding. Noah’s challenge will be to keep developing his interests without being defined only by the record. Technology changes quickly, and the skills that matter most will include creativity, collaboration and the ability to learn new systems.A beginning rather than an endingNoah Williams became the world’s youngest computer programmer after learning C++ at six, joining Mensa at seven and having one of his programmes published at eight. His record captures an unusual moment in a young life, but it does not predict exactly what he will do next. He may continue with software, robotics or drones, or move into fields that do not yet exist in their current form. The important foundation is his ability to ask questions and turn ideas into working systems. For other children, his story offers encouragement without requiring imitation. Not every child needs to learn C++ at six, or go for a world record. The bigger lesson is that curiosity can become powerful when given time, guidance and freedom to develop. By age nine, Noah already shows what can happen when a child sees computers not simply as machines to be used, but as tools for thinking, creating and discovering.
