Dennis Ritchie, 1941-2011
It's a sad day. I came across a passage recently from The Tao of Programming which reminded me of Dennis Ritchie.<p>"The programmers of old were mysterious and profound. We cannot fathom their thoughts, so all we do is describe their appearance.<p>Aware, like a fox crossing the water. Alert, like a general on the battlefield. Kind, like a hostess greeting her guests. Simple, like uncarved blocks of wood. Opaque, like black pools in darkened caves.<p>Who can tell the secrets of their hearts and minds?<p>The answer exists only in Tao."