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Did the author have any connection with Dijkstra prior to this? University, school? This letter would be even more amazing if he did not. A legend like Dijkst
by ThinkBeat 4y ago
Did the author have any connection with Dijkstra prior to this?
University, school?
This letter would be even more amazing if he did not.
A legend like Dijkstra spending several hours to work out
what the author was saying in the letter and to offer advice.
I would expect a terse 3 line reply if any replay at all.
Instead he is kind enough to put real effort into it.
- raphlinus 4y agoYes, we were corresponding for a while, this wasn't just a response to a cold contact. My dad, who was quite a promoter and very invested in the idea of me being a gifted kid, reached out to a bunch of computer scientists, and several responded. I have some of those letters but haven't done any careful organizing of them. As I mentioned in the memorial note, Dijkstra would go on to invite me to the Marktoberdorf summer school the following summer, where I got to spend time with him, Tony Hoare, Greg Nelson, Robert Constable (of Nuprl fame), and others.
- touisteur 4y agoSeems your father did something fantastic for you there (whatever his intrinsic motivations), you've been gifted with amazing experiences or at least great opportunities. I wish I'll be able to help my kids get these kinds of chances in whatever field or endeavour they chose. Writing letters and getting people's attention, centering them on the impact a very little of their time can be a huge boost, help, to a young person, seems like a parent's job.