Dave Cutler

A respected OperatingSystem designer.

Prime Architect of both Digital VAX/VMS (see VmsOperatingSystem) and Mica, which was later bought by Microsoft and further developed to become MicrosoftWindowsNt.

A respected Operating System designer. The Digital folks didn't seem to have much respect for him when I worked there in 1996-1997. And it was not just about his jumping ship: there were criticisms of his management style and technical achievements. --GeorgePaci

See http://www.rediff.com/chat/mukichat.htm

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/people/people_17.html

http://www.win2000mag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=7153

http://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mader/delta/deltoidslist/1998-06/msg00051.html

http://www.classiccmp.org/mail-archive/classiccmp/1999-03/1302.html (BrokenLink as of 2003-10-27)

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2000/jul00/07-03engineers2.asp

for a more balanced perspective

And in case that isn't enough don't forget the DaveCutler fan club, which was online at http://home.wt.net/shannonh/ and is still retrievable via WaybackMachine at http://web.archive.org/web/20010907185753/http://home.wt.net/shannonh/

And I spent 6 happy wonderful years at DigitalEquipmentCorporation in the eighties (not the MBA influenced 95-96 version when most of the talent had left) and I can say with most certainty that most of our engineers regarded him as a God. VMS had things 20 years ago that most operating systems still haven't achieved. Abrasive, yes, but most geniuses are. Rashid (the MachMicrokernel guy) respects him as do most heavy OS designers. That's good enough for me.

CategoryPerson CategoryMicrosoft