The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source Wisdom from 50+ years in software (Interview)
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Mar 30, 2022 Brian Kernighan, a pioneering figure at Bell Labs during the birth of Unix and now a professor at Princeton, shares his wealth of knowledge on software development. He reflects on the enduring legacy of the C programming language and discusses modern languages like Go and Rust. Kernighan recounts the innovative atmosphere of Unix's inception and explores the evolution of programming methodologies. He emphasizes the importance of foundational tech education for future developers while advocating for flexibility in programming environments.
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Unix's Birth
- Brian Kernighan witnessed the birth of Unix at Bell Labs, although he wasn't directly involved in its initial development.
- Ken Thompson, a remarkably skilled programmer, built the first Unix prototype in three weeks during 1969.
Computing Evolution
- Computing has drastically changed in 50 years; computers used to be million-dollar machines with limited memory and speed.
- Moore's Law fueled exponential improvements, making today's powerful, interconnected computers possible.
Persistent Challenges
- Despite advancements, programmers still face limitations like resource constraints and human error, which leads to bugs.
- Bad actors remain a persistent challenge, now with a broader reach due to the internet.
