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{{short description|American computer programmer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{BLP sources|date=February 2014}}

{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Walter Bright
| name = Walter Bright
| image = WalterBright.jpg
| image = WalterBright.jpg
| caption = Bright at [[ACCU (organisation)|ACCU]] 2009
| caption = Bright at [[ACCU (organisation)|ACCU]] 2009
| birth_date = {{circa}} {{birth year and age|1957}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|03|10}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| residence =
| education = [[Caltech]] (BS, 1979)
| education = [[Caltech]] (BS, 1979)
| occupation =
| occupation =
| known_for = [[D (programming language)]], ''[[Classic Empire|Empire]]''
| known_for = [[D (programming language)]]<br>''[[Empire (1977 video game)|Empire]]''
| spouse = Trish Bright<ref name="Bengel2016">{{cite news|last=Bengel|first=Erick|title=Museum of Whimsy Shares Its Treasures|date=2016-06-30|work=[[The Daily Astorian]]|page=1|url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83008376/2016-06-30/ed-1/seq-1/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210926120208/https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83008376/2016-06-30/ed-1/seq-1/}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|walterbright.com}}
| website = {{URL|walterbright.com}}
}}
}}


'''Walter Bright''' is an American [[computer programmer]] who created the [[D (programming language)|D programming language]],<ref name="wired"/><ref>https://dlang.org/blog/2016/08/30/ruminations-on-d-an-interview-with-walter-bright/</ref> the [[Zortech C++]] compiler, and the ''[[Classic Empire|Empire]]'' computer game.
'''Walter G. Bright''' (born March 10, 1959) is an American [[computer programmer]] who created the [[D (programming language)|D programming language]],<ref name="wired"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dlang.org/blog/2016/08/30/ruminations-on-d-an-interview-with-walter-bright/|title = Ruminations on D: An Interview with Walter Bright|date = 30 August 2016}}</ref> the [[Zortech C++]] compiler, and the ''[[Empire (1977 video game)|Empire]]'' computer game.

==Early life and education==
Bright is the son of the [[United States Air Force]] pilot Charles D. Bright.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26526644 |title = on: The Complexity of a WW II P-47 Thunderbolt's Powerplant |first = Walter|last = Bright|year = 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://generalatomic.com/jetmakers/introduction.html |title = The Jetmakers}}</ref> He taught himself computer programming from the [[type-in program]]s in ''[[BASIC Computer Games]]''.<ref name="hn28572761">{{Cite web |last=Bright |first=Walter |date=2021-09-18 |title=Basic Computer Games (1978) |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28572761 |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=Hacker News}}</ref>

Bright graduated from [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]] in 1979 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[Mechanical Engineering]] and a minor in [[Aeronautical Engineering]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bright |first1=Walter |last2=Alexandrescu |first2=Andrei |last3=Parker |first3=Michael |title=Origins of the D Programming Language |journal= Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages|date=June 2020 |volume=4 |issue=HOPL |page=1 |doi=10.1145/3386323 |doi-access=free }} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23815636 |title = on: An aerospace engineer explains fireworks |first = Walter|last = Bright|year = 2020}}</ref> While at university he wrote the ''[[Empire (1977 video game)|Empire]]'' wargame for the [[PDP-10]] mainframe.<ref name=bright2000>{{cite web |url = http://www.classicempire.com/history.html |title = A Brief History of Empire |first = Walter|last = Bright|year = 2000 |work = Walter Bright's Empire website}}</ref>


==Career==
Bright was the main developer of the first [[C++]] compiler to translate source code directly to object code without using [[C (programming language)|C]] as an intermediate, and Zortech C++ (later becoming [[Symantec]] C++, now [[Digital Mars]] C++). Before designing the C++ [[compiler]], he developed the [[Datalight C]] compiler, also sold as Zorland C and later Zortech C.<ref name ="Zortech C++ 1991">{{Cite magazine |last= Johnston |first= Stuart |title= Zortech Simplifies 32-Bit DOS with C++ Compilers |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 13 | issue = 23 | page =22 | publisher = InfoWorld Publishing | location = Menlo Park, CA | date = Jun 10, 1991 | issn = 0199-6649 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RlAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22}} "said Walter Bright, Zortech's directory of technology</ref>
Bright wrote [[Mattel Intellivision]] games while at Caltech, then worked as a mechanical engineer after graduation. After learning [[C (language)|C]] in the early 1980s he ported ''Empire'' to the [[IBM PC]], stating that C "might as well have been called EIL, for 'Empire Implementation Language.'"{{r|bright2000}} Bright developed the [[Datalight C]] compiler, also sold as Zorland C and later Zortech C.<ref name ="Zortech C++ 1991">{{Cite magazine |last= Johnston |first= Stuart |title= Zortech Simplifies 32-Bit DOS with C++ Compilers |magazine= InfoWorld | volume = 13 | issue = 23 | page =22 | publisher = InfoWorld Publishing | location = Menlo Park, CA | date = Jun 10, 1991 | issn = 0199-6649 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RlAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22}} "said Walter Bright, Zortech's directory of technology</ref>


Bright was the main developer of the Zortech C++ compiler (later [[NortonLifeLock|Symantec]] C++, now [[Digital Mars]] C++), which was the first [[C++]] compiler to translate source code directly to object code without using [[C (programming language)|C]] as an intermediate.<ref name="Loder2016">{{cite book|page=xvii|last=Loder|first=Wolfgang|isbn=9781484223949|publisher=[[Apress]]|title=Erlang and Elixir for Imperative Programmers|chapter=Introduction|date=26 November 2016}}</ref>
==Biography==
Bright graduated from [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]] in 1979 with a [[Bachelor of Science]] in mechanical engineering.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} While at university he wrote the ''[[Classic Empire|Empire]]'' wargame for the [[PDP-10]] mainframe; it was completed in 1977.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.classicempire.com/history.html |title = A Brief History of Empire |first = Walter|last = Bright|year = 2000 |work = Walter Bright's ''Empire'' website}}</ref>


===D programming language===
Walter Bright is the creator of the D programming language. He has implemented compilers for several other languages, and is considered an expert in many areas related to compiler technology.<ref>[http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2012/Panel-Native-Languages "Lang.NEXT 2012 Expert Panel: Native Languages"] Lang.Next</ref> Walter regularly writes scientific and magazine articles about compilers and programming and was a blogger for ''[[Dr. Dobb's Journal]]''.
Bright is the creator of the D programming language. He has implemented compilers for several other languages, and is considered an expert in many areas related to compiler technology.<ref>[http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Lang-NEXT/Lang-NEXT-2012/Panel-Native-Languages "Lang.NEXT 2012 Expert Panel: Native Languages"] Lang.Next</ref> Walter regularly writes scientific and magazine articles about compilers and programming<ref name="DConf2017">{{cite web|url=https://dconf.org/2017/speakers/|title=The D Programming Language Conference 2017|publisher=[[D Language Foundation]]|access-date=2021-09-26|date=2017|url-status=live|archive-date=2020-08-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815021925/https://dconf.org/2017/speakers/}}</ref> and was a blogger for ''[[Dr. Dobb's Journal]]''.<ref name="Binstock2014">{{cite web|work=[[Dr. Dobb's Journal]]|last=Binstock|first=Andrew|date=2014-12-16|title=Farewell, Dr. Dobb's|url=https://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/farewell-dr-dobbs/240169421|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-09-26|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210926121354/https://www.callapple.org/dr-dobbs-journal/}}</ref>


Around 2014, Bright wrote Warp, a fast C/C++ preprocessor written in D, for [[Facebook]].<ref name="Larabel2014">{{cite web|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTY0ODg|last=Larabel|first=Michael|date=2014-03-31|work=[[Phoronix]]|access-date=2021-09-26|url-status=live|archive-date=2020-11-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124211652/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTY0ODg|title=Warp: Facebook Open-Sources A Super Fast C/C++ Pre-Processor}}</ref><ref name="Alexandrescu2014">{{cite web|last=Alexandrescu|first=Andrei|date=2014-03-28|publisher=[[Facebook]]|title=Under the Hood: warp, a fast C and C++ preprocessor|url=https://engineering.fb.com/2014/03/28/open-source/under-the-hood-warp-a-fast-c-and-c-preprocessor/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|archive-date=2021-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305000817/https://engineering.fb.com/2014/03/28/open-source/under-the-hood-warp-a-fast-c-and-c-preprocessor/}}</ref><ref name="wired">{{cite magazine |title=The Next Big Programming Language You've Never Heard Of |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/07/d-programming-language/|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=7 July 2014 |author=Cade Metz}}</ref>
He was hired by [[Facebook]]{{when?}} to write a fast C/C++ preprocessor in D.<ref name="wired">{{cite web|title=The Next Big Programming Language You've Never Heard Of {{!}} WIRED|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/07/d-programming-language/|website=www.wired.com}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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* [http://www.walterbright.com/ Walter Bright home page]
* [http://www.walterbright.com/ Walter Bright home page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222013441/http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1744247671;fp;4194304;fpid;1 Computerworld Interview with Walter Bright on D Programming Language]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081222013441/http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1744247671;fp;4194304;fpid;1 Computerworld Interview with Walter Bright on D Programming Language]
* [http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/how-i-came-to-write-d/240165322?elq=ec1276a03f5a494d9198908d67c3b086&elqCampaignId=1886/ Dr. Dobbs interview with Walter Bright on how I came to write the D Programming Language]
* {{cite magazine | url=http://www.drdobbs.com/architecture-and-design/how-i-came-to-write-d/240165322?elq=ec1276a03f5a494d9198908d67c3b086&elqCampaignId=1886
| magazine=[[Dr. Dobb's Journal]] | author=Walter Bright | title=How I Came to Write D | date=8 April 2014 |ref=none}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bright, Walter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bright, Walter}}
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Programming language designers]]
[[Category:Programming language designers]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]]
[[Category:California Institute of Technology alumni]]

Latest revision as of 09:11, 18 August 2024

Walter Bright
Bright at ACCU 2009
Born (1959-03-10) March 10, 1959 (age 65)
EducationCaltech (BS, 1979)
Known forD (programming language)
Empire
SpouseTrish Bright[1]
Websitewalterbright.com

Walter G. Bright (born March 10, 1959) is an American computer programmer who created the D programming language,[2][3] the Zortech C++ compiler, and the Empire computer game.

Early life and education

[edit]

Bright is the son of the United States Air Force pilot Charles D. Bright.[4][5] He taught himself computer programming from the type-in programs in BASIC Computer Games.[6]

Bright graduated from Caltech in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Aeronautical Engineering.[7][8] While at university he wrote the Empire wargame for the PDP-10 mainframe.[9]

Career

[edit]

Bright wrote Mattel Intellivision games while at Caltech, then worked as a mechanical engineer after graduation. After learning C in the early 1980s he ported Empire to the IBM PC, stating that C "might as well have been called EIL, for 'Empire Implementation Language.'"[9] Bright developed the Datalight C compiler, also sold as Zorland C and later Zortech C.[10]

Bright was the main developer of the Zortech C++ compiler (later Symantec C++, now Digital Mars C++), which was the first C++ compiler to translate source code directly to object code without using C as an intermediate.[11]

D programming language

[edit]

Bright is the creator of the D programming language. He has implemented compilers for several other languages, and is considered an expert in many areas related to compiler technology.[12] Walter regularly writes scientific and magazine articles about compilers and programming[13] and was a blogger for Dr. Dobb's Journal.[14]

Around 2014, Bright wrote Warp, a fast C/C++ preprocessor written in D, for Facebook.[15][16][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bengel, Erick (2016-06-30). "Museum of Whimsy Shares Its Treasures". The Daily Astorian. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  2. ^ a b Cade Metz (7 July 2014). "The Next Big Programming Language You've Never Heard Of". Wired.
  3. ^ "Ruminations on D: An Interview with Walter Bright". 30 August 2016.
  4. ^ Bright, Walter (2021). "on: The Complexity of a WW II P-47 Thunderbolt's Powerplant".
  5. ^ "The Jetmakers".
  6. ^ Bright, Walter (2021-09-18). "Basic Computer Games (1978)". Hacker News. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  7. ^ Bright, Walter; Alexandrescu, Andrei; Parker, Michael (June 2020). "Origins of the D Programming Language". Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages. 4 (HOPL): 1. doi:10.1145/3386323.
  8. ^ Bright, Walter (2020). "on: An aerospace engineer explains fireworks".
  9. ^ a b Bright, Walter (2000). "A Brief History of Empire". Walter Bright's Empire website.
  10. ^ Johnston, Stuart (Jun 10, 1991). "Zortech Simplifies 32-Bit DOS with C++ Compilers". InfoWorld. Vol. 13, no. 23. Menlo Park, CA: InfoWorld Publishing. p. 22. ISSN 0199-6649. "said Walter Bright, Zortech's directory of technology
  11. ^ Loder, Wolfgang (26 November 2016). "Introduction". Erlang and Elixir for Imperative Programmers. Apress. p. xvii. ISBN 9781484223949.
  12. ^ "Lang.NEXT 2012 Expert Panel: Native Languages" Lang.Next
  13. ^ "The D Programming Language Conference 2017". D Language Foundation. 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  14. ^ Binstock, Andrew (2014-12-16). "Farewell, Dr. Dobb's". Dr. Dobb's Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  15. ^ Larabel, Michael (2014-03-31). "Warp: Facebook Open-Sources A Super Fast C/C++ Pre-Processor". Phoronix. Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
  16. ^ Alexandrescu, Andrei (2014-03-28). "Under the Hood: warp, a fast C and C++ preprocessor". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-09-26.
[edit]
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