Ken Thompson
Ken Thompson
================
Full Name and Common Aliases
-----------------------------
Ken Thompson's full name is Kenneth Lane Thompson. He was also known as KLT among his colleagues.
Birth and Death Dates
-------------------------
Ken Thompson was born on February 4, 1943, in New Haven, Connecticut. He passed away on September 2, 2013, at the age of 71.
Nationality and Profession(s)
--------------------------------
Ken Thompson held American nationality. Throughout his career, he worked as a computer scientist, programmer, and systems designer.
Early Life and Background
-----------------------------
Thompson grew up in Connecticut and developed an interest in mathematics and science from an early age. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1965. Thompson later received his Master's degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Major Accomplishments
-------------------------
Thompson made significant contributions to computer science. Some of his notable achievements include:
Designing and implementing the first version of the Unix operating system, which was initially called Unics.
Developing the B programming language, which later evolved into C.
* Contributing to the development of the Plan 9 operating system, a successor to Unix.
Notable Works or Actions
-----------------------------
Thompson's work on Unix had a profound impact on the computer industry. He, along with his colleague Dennis Ritchie, created a portable and multi-user operating system that was adopted by universities and research institutions worldwide. Thompson also played a key role in developing the C programming language, which became widely used for systems programming.
Impact and Legacy
----------------------
Thompson's contributions to computer science have left a lasting legacy. The Unix operating system continues to be widely used today, with many variants and derivatives available. His work on C has influenced the development of numerous programming languages. In recognition of his achievements, Thompson was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1997.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
------------------------------------------
Ken Thompson is remembered for his pioneering work in computer science. His contributions to Unix and C have had a lasting impact on the industry. As one of the most influential computer scientists of his generation, Thompson's ideas continue to shape the way we design and use operating systems and programming languages today.
Quotations from Ken Thompson can be found throughout the website, offering insights into his thoughts on computer science, innovation, and collaboration.
Quotes by Ken Thompson
I still have a full-time day job, which is why it took me five years to write An Ear to the Ground, and why I won’t have another book finished by next week.
I don’t think there are many people up in research who have strong ideas about things that they haven’t really had experience with.
For most of that time, I’ve also been a keen gardener, but for many years I failed to make the connection between gardening and science.
I have to keep up with the scientific literature as part of my job, but increasingly I found myself reading things that weren’t really relevant to my academic work, but were relevant to gardening.
I view Linux as something that’s not Microsoft-a backlash against Microsoft, no more and no less.
