Fifty Years of the International Symposium on Computer Architecture: A Data-Driven Retrospective

2023 marked the fiftieth year of the International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA). As one of the oldest and preeminent computer architecture conferences, ISCA represents a microcosm of the broader community; correspondingly, a 50-year-retrospective offers us a great way to track the impact and evolution of the field. Analyzing the content and impact of all the papers published at ISCA so far, we show how computer architecture research has been at the forefront of advances that have driven the broader computing ecosystem. Decadal trends show a dynamic and rapidly-evolving field, with diverse contributions. Examining how the most highly-cited papers achieve their popularity reveals interesting trends on technology adoption curves and the path to impact. Our data also highlights a growing and thriving community, with interesting insights on diversity and scale. We conclude with a summary of the celebratory panel held at ISCA, with observations on the exciting future ahead.