Four famous computer programmers every IT student should know

Information Technology (IT) has brought massive improvements in our lives as a whole, whether or not you work in the field. In its own way, it has brought the world closer together and has allowed the world’s economy to become one interdependent system. Information can now be passed quickly without worrying about linguistic and geographical barriers. Top IT schools in Manila and all over the world strive to produce the best graduates to ensure that the information will be passed on smoothly and with no delay.

Although they have pronounced differences, IT and computer programming are mutually dependent. Every student taking a computer-related course should also familiarize themselves with the pioneers of the different fields of computer, especially in programming. Notable computer programmers and their significant contributions have made a large impact on the devices and gadgets that are now integral parts of the society.

Tim Bernes-Lee

Sir Timothy John “Tim” Bernes Lee is a British computer scientist renowned globally for his creation of the World Wide Web. He was also responsible for the implementation of the first communication between a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) client and server via the Internet. He holds multiple awards such as being included in the World Wide Web Hall of Fame and being one of the only five Internet and Web pioneers to hold a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. Tim also holds the Founders Chair at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

Ada Lovelace

Born Augusta Ada King, Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician and is considered as the world’s first computer programmer. She is credited for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, a mechanical-general purpose computer – her notes for the Analytical Engine were recognized as the first algorithm created for the sole intent of being processed by a machine. With her futuristic mindset she was able to predict that computers would be used for bigger purposes and not just for numbers.

Dennis Ritchie

Dennis MacAlistair Ritchie was an American computer scientist known for shaping the digital era. He created the C programming language, used today in a variety of software applications, operating systems, and modern programming languages. Along with Ken Thompson, Ritchie created the UNIX operating system. He was also the head of Lucent Technologies System Software Research Department when he retired in 2007. When he passed away on October 12, 2011, the Fedora 16 Linux was released in honor of his memory.

Ken Thompson

A colleague of Dennis Ritchie, Kenneth Lane Thompson is an American pioneer of computer science. He has co-invented the Go programming language while working at Google and was one of the early developers of the Plan 9 operating systems. He was responsible for the design and implementation of the original UNIX operating system and invented the B programming language, the predecessor of the famous C programming language made by Dennis Ritchie.

Without these programmers, humanity won’t be able to understand the potential of computers the way we do today!