4 ms·

Ward Cunningham, Don Knuth (mentioned in the OP) and Linus Torvalds also qualify, as well, I think. Note that I'm not simply listing out random famous software

by henning 17y ago

Ward Cunningham, Don Knuth (mentioned in the OP) and Linus Torvalds also qualify, as well, I think. Note that I'm not simply listing out random famous software people. I don't think Martin Fowler qualifies, for instance.

btilly 17y ago
The OP brought up and specifically disqualified Don Knuth because he had freedom as an academic that working software developers don't. The example given was his ability to take off 3 years to work on TeX. By those criteria I consider Linus Torvalds likely to be disqualified as well since he made his reputation while using the freedom he had as a student. Ward Cunningham would be a good addition to the list.
- tjr 17y ago
  I wonder how Don Knuth would fare writing something like TeX under time constraints. I suspect that most programmers would prefer to have unlimited time to make things "perfect" rather than be under pressure; just because Knuth had the liberty to take that option doesn't mean he wouldn't do as well as (if not better than) anyone else on a restricted schedule.
  - pmjordan 17y ago
    In my experience, getting anything done when you have unlimited time is a challenge upon itself.
    - ptuzla 17y ago
      I second that. I also think that a person who quitted using email in 1990 for not loosing time for his studies, wouldn't have unlimited time for writing Tex.