John Backus passes away...

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Ethan Dicks wrote:
> On 3/20/07, Ram Meenakshisundaram <RMeenaks at olf.com> wrote:
>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/19/obituaries/20cnd-backus.html?ex=1332043200&en=adde3ee5a1875330&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink 
>>
> 
> I caught that earlier.  The thing that really snagged my attention was
> when they got to "Backus-Naur notation" and I read he was _that_
> Backus.
> 
> I am just old enough to have been paid to program in FORTRAN, but I'm
> really glad I didn't have to do much of it.  Besides lifting
> programming out of its primordial foundations, John Backus gave us the
> platform from which ADVENT sprang.  No disrepect to Grace Hopper
> intended, but can you imagine trying to write a text adventure in
> COBOL?

I've done quite a bit of scientific programming in support of my father 
the scientist.  There's some stuff for which I just prefer FORTRAN.

I've read much of his stuff, being a fan of his.  He'll be missed.

Peace...  Sridhar