RIP Dennis Ritchie:

[hartree]

His name isn't known to the masses the way Steve Jobs was, but this man had a massive influence on our computer and network infrastructure. The C programming language not only is the backbone of much of the code that runs our modern infrastructure, but the ideas incorporated in it have influenced even languages not directly based on it

Comments

Wow...

[vindonnus]

Where did you hear about his death and why hadn't I heard earlier?

Seems all of yesterday's stars are falling this month. I wonder if Bill will hop out next...

A case study in what Dennis helped build:

[hartree]

Heard it from my roommate, Crim Ferret who got it from Twitter. I then logged on and found the original post by Rob Pike on Google+ about it. Then saw the wikipedia article listed his death. After that, I found several tech related places had articles about it.

[rcking]

Wow. We lost DMR and Findra. Two notables from very different worlds. I'm surprised I didn't see the loss of DMR on Slashdot. This is a sad start for the day.

[hartree]

It took some time for it to get to the front page of slashdot.

Findra's gone? What happened and when?

[rcking]

Not a lot of information is available on Findra's death at the moment.

[shockwave77598]

I knew the name. Very well, yes. My first data structures class was given by a devotee of his, and I was REQUIRED to have the K&R book with me anytime he saw me.

It has been a sad October for the computer field.

[carlhh]

Ah, yes. The "Blue Book." I feel rather guilty that I have mine in a book pile next to my computer and not where I can just grab it.

[neowolf2]

I spent the day making bad jokes about this.

In my defense, I hope everyone who cares does the same when I go.

[hartree]

Indeed. When I go, I hope people crack a few jokes rather than get all down in the dumps.