Who are Destined to Become Great Historical Figures in the Computer Programming World?

Kurt Godel

Alan Turing

Donald Knuth

Of course, it is a bit presumptuous to include Dr. Knuth in that list. He is still alive and working in computer programming (as a professor). Some others who are still alive and working (but who seem destined to become “historical figures” after retirement (and death) might be:

Rob Pike

Robert Griesemer

Ken Thompson

Bjarne Stroustrup (although I hate C++ myself, it is impossible ignore his

historical significance)

Niklaus Wirth

And of course a good list goes on and on: Dennis Ritchie, James Gosling, Guido van Rossum, Alan Kay, the 3 guys awk was named for: Aho, Weinberger, Kernighan...and so forth.

Computer programming is young; we are still blessed with the presence of many

pioneers, from among whom will come the short list of those who will be recognized as “great historical figures” in the programming world.