re: #72 Justanotherhuman

Grace Murray Hopper

Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Murray Hopper was a remarkable woman who grandly rose to the challenges of programming the first computers. During her lifetime as a leader in the field of software development concepts, she contributed to the transition from primitive programming techniques to the use of sophisticated compilers. She believed that “we’ve always done it that way” was not necessarily a good reason to continue to do so.

cs.yale.edu

It is said that she also is responsible for the terms “bug” and “debug,” apparently coined when she had to pick moths out of an early computer.

A remarkable woman indeed. She used to give out pieces of wire, the length of which represented the distance light can travel in one nanosecond, to help people visualize the speed of light.

Early computers used mechanical relays for connections. These opened and closed connections mechanically, like fingers pinching together and separating. While troubleshooting the output, she discovered a moth caught inside a relay, preventing the contacts from closing and making the connection. Hence the terms bug and debugging the computer.

An unsung hero we owe a huge debt of gratitude to. Thanks, Admiral Hopper!

Here she is on the David Letterman show.

Grace Hopper on Letterman