Another Tech Titan, Dennis Ritchie, Passes Away

kjk · 10-13-2011, 10:25 AM

http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/13/fat...way-at-age-70/

Quote:

Ritchie, also known as “dmr”, is best know for creating the C programming language as well as being instrumental in the development of UNIX along with Ken Thompson.

Quote:

Today, C remains the second most popular programming language in the world (or at least the language in which the second most lines of code have been written), and ushered in C++ and Java; while the pair’s work on Unix led to, among other things, Linus Torvalds’ Linux.

And Apple's OS X and iOS, and Google's Android, of course.

One of the true pioneers of the modern computing age.

Phogg · 10-13-2011, 10:50 AM

It is sad that a true innovater is unlikely to inspire as long a thread as a cut throat marketer who made a career of claiming credit for the work of the engineers and technicians.

Andrew H. · 10-13-2011, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phogg

It is sad that a true innovater is unlikely to inspire as long a thread as a cut throat marketer who made a career of claiming credit for the work of the engineers and technicians.

Henry Ford?

5thWiggle · 10-13-2011, 11:07 AM

cp /earth/dmr /heaven/dmr
rm /earth/dmr
grep "sadness" 5thWiggle
printf "RIP"

RainingLemur · 10-13-2011, 11:07 AM

Wow. Now that's a true loss.

Nancy Fulda · 10-13-2011, 11:39 AM

Wow. That's quite a list of accomplishments.

ekster · 10-13-2011, 11:54 AM

I remember when I was studying computer programming in college, our first 2 semesters were revolving around java, and I really hated how it worked as some very simple or popular tasks required long workarounds... then we got introduced to C and C++, what a difference!
And Unix was also an amazing addition, considering everything else that got based on it.

The man was a real genius when it came to computers.
RIP

=X= · 10-13-2011, 12:14 PM

Here is a true innovator. Not only that this guy has has a HUGE impact in our culture without anyone being the wise. All major operating systems are built on the foundation that this guy laid forth. UNIX, BSD, OSX, Linux, Java, etc... The list goes on.

Not dig on the previous innovator who passed away recently, RIP, but what he has done pales in comparison to to the amount of impact Richie has had on our culture.

RIP Richie

=X= · 10-13-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekster

... then we got introduced to C and C++, ...

Yeah, reading his bible on C/C++ was just like reading the Good Book. Couldn't understand jack I read, but fun as heck to quote.

=X=

kjk · 10-13-2011, 01:07 PM

My favorite Dennis Ritchie quote:

Quote:

"UNIX is very simple, it just needs a genius to understand its simplicity."

HomeInMyShoes · 10-13-2011, 01:09 PM

RIP Dennis Ritchie.

pholy · 10-13-2011, 02:22 PM

The Economist posted a story about dmr many years ago. I wondered why I found it. - LinkedIn posted it without any other text.

It's hard to imagine how we could have current PCs, smartphones, and tablets without the creation of a language like C, or an operating system like Unix.

Pablo · 10-13-2011, 02:54 PM

For my thesis I learnt C reading Kernighan & Ritchie's The C programming language, the best book on programming ever written and a model for others to follow.

Terisa de morgan · 10-13-2011, 03:33 PM

Yes, I used Kernighan & Ritchie's book when I began to work for learning a language I was supposed to know

One of the clearest programming books I've read. It's still in my bookshop.

RIP.

rkomar · 10-13-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pablo

For my thesis I learnt C reading Kernighan & Ritchie's The C programming language, the best book on programming ever written and a model for others to follow.

I wholeheartedly agree! I was just using my well-thumbed copy yesterday. Unfortunately, there haven't been many other books like it (maybe Stroustrup's early book on C++). As per kjk's quote above, to write a book like that, you need the understanding of the genius.

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10-13-2011, 10:50 AM	#2
Phogg PHD in Horribleness Posts: 2,320 Karma: 23599604 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the ironbound section, near avenue L Device: Just a whole bunch. I guess I am a collector now.	It is sad that a true innovater is unlikely to inspire as long a thread as a cut throat marketer who made a career of claiming credit for the work of the engineers and technicians.

10-13-2011, 11:07 AM	#4
5thWiggle Benevolent Evil Lord Posts: 1,704 Karma: 48339466 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Evil Canada (We all have goatees!) Device: Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note, iPad Mini, PocketEdge(retired)	cp /earth/dmr /heaven/dmr rm /earth/dmr grep "sadness" 5thWiggle printf "RIP"

10-13-2011, 11:07 AM	#5
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	Wow. Now that's a true loss.

10-13-2011, 11:39 AM	#6
Nancy Fulda I write stories. Posts: 700 Karma: 16437432 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northern Germany Device: kindle	Wow. That's quite a list of accomplishments.

10-13-2011, 11:54 AM	#7
ekster Currently without a title Posts: 203 Karma: 3209914 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Canada, Qc Device: Kobo Touch	I remember when I was studying computer programming in college, our first 2 semesters were revolving around java, and I really hated how it worked as some very simple or popular tasks required long workarounds... then we got introduced to C and C++, what a difference! And Unix was also an amazing addition, considering everything else that got based on it. The man was a real genius when it came to computers. RIP

10-13-2011, 12:14 PM	#8
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	Here is a true innovator. Not only that this guy has has a HUGE impact in our culture without anyone being the wise. All major operating systems are built on the foundation that this guy laid forth. UNIX, BSD, OSX, Linux, Java, etc... The list goes on. Not dig on the previous innovator who passed away recently, RIP, but what he has done pales in comparison to to the amount of impact Richie has had on our culture. RIP Richie

10-13-2011, 01:09 PM	#11
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	RIP Dennis Ritchie.

10-13-2011, 02:22 PM	#12
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	The Economist posted a story about dmr many years ago. I wondered why I found it. - LinkedIn posted it without any other text. It's hard to imagine how we could have current PCs, smartphones, and tablets without the creation of a language like C, or an operating system like Unix.

10-13-2011, 02:54 PM	#13
Pablo Guru Posts: 972 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-T2, Kindle Paperwhite 11th gen	For my thesis I learnt C reading Kernighan & Ritchie's The C programming language, the best book on programming ever written and a model for others to follow.

10-13-2011, 03:33 PM	#14
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,631 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	Yes, I used Kernighan & Ritchie's book when I began to work for learning a language I was supposed to know One of the clearest programming books I've read. It's still in my bookshop. RIP.