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The Intel 8086 is the father of the x86ers. It came about in 1976, as a fill-in for another project that was delayed, and was released in 1978. The chip was designed by Stephen Morse, a software engineer, which brought a different perspective since processors were mainly the domain of hardware engineers. The 8086 didn't just have a lasting impact on the industry, the chip itself had staying power; it was still in use on the Space Shuttle Discovery when the shuttle was retired last year.