Recreating Dennis Ritchie's PhD Thesis - Computerphile

TL;DR

Dennis Ritchie, co-creator of Unix and creator of the C programming language, never completed or submitted his Ph.D. thesis, leaving a gap in his life story.

Transcript

even with all the time given up to me now by lockdown there still isn't enough time it takes forever and it's a good job i'm semi retired from being a a part of the school of computer science at nottingham because honestly as a regular employee i could not justify the hours i've spent on my latest ultra fascinating project i refer you my dear watso... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍃 Dennis Ritchie never completed or submitted his Ph.D. thesis, leaving a gap in his academic record.
• 👨‍🔬 Ritchie's focus on practical programming and creating useful tools overshadowed his interest in theoretical research.
• 🙂 The Computer History Museum uncovered the story of Ritchie's unfinished thesis, shedding light on this aspect of his life.

Questions & Answers

Q: Did Dennis Ritchie ever complete or submit his Ph.D. thesis?

No, Ritchie never properly submitted his thesis. The examination panel was appointed but never met, and there was a standoff over binding costs, which he objected to paying.

Q: What was the topic of Ritchie's Ph.D. thesis?

Ritchie's thesis was in theoretical computer science, coming out of the mathematics department. It focused on a highly complex subject, likely related to his mathematical background.

Q: Why was Ritchie more interested in practical programming than completing his thesis?

Ritchie found programming and developing practical programs, like the C programming language and Unix, more fascinating and valuable than theoretical research. He wanted to help his friend Ken Thompson with Unix and create useful tools.

Q: How did Ritchie type and format his thesis?

Ritchie used a golf ball typewriter, specifically an IBM Selectric model, to type and format his thesis. He would manually change the golf ball to include special characters and equations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dennis Ritchie, known for his work on Unix and C, never submitted his Ph.D. thesis, leaving a mystery surrounding his academic achievements.

• The Computer History Museum uncovered the story of Ritchie's unfinished thesis, which involved a standoff with the examination panel over binding costs.

• Ritchie was more interested in practical programming and playing space wars than completing his thesis, which was focused on theoretical computer science.