Title:
Oral History of Donald Knuth

Date:
2007-03-142007-03-21

Pages:
73 p.

Interviewer:
Feigenbaum, Edward; interviewer
Knuth, Donald; interviewee
Rosenshteyn, Yan; cameraperson

Abstract:
In this wide-ranging interview conducted by Edward Feigenbaum, Donald Knuth talks about the progression of his life and career. Topics include his family background and early interest in music, physics and mathematics, his first exposure to programming, finding a mentor, and writing a doctoral thesis. He describes how “The Art of Computer Programming” became “the story of my life”, and why it was put on hold for the TeX and METAFONT projects. He also talks about personal work habits, programming style, analysis of algorithms, the influence of religion in his life, and his advice to the next generation of scientists.

Keywords:
Knuth, Donald
IBM 650
combinatorics
analysis of algorithms
The Art of Computer Programming
Stanford University
TeX
METAFONT
religion
literate programming

Rights:
Computer History Museum

102658053