The Mind Behind Windows: Dave Cutler
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Publicado 2023-10-21
Dave Cutler is a seminal figure in computer science, renowned for his contributions to operating systems. Born in 1942, he played pivotal roles in the development of several OSes, most notably VMS for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Windows NT for Microsoft. Cutler's design principles emphasize performance, reliability, and scalability. His work on Windows NT laid the foundation for many subsequent Windows versions, solidifying its place in enterprise and personal computing. A stickler for detail and a rigorous engineer, Cutler's influence is evident in modern OS design and architecture. He's a recipient of the Computer History Museum's Fellow Award for his unparalleled contributions.
If someone wants to add chapter markers, please post them in the comments and I'll add them to the video!
Todos los comentarios (21)
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81y.o. and still fully sane and capable of intellectual work. I wish everyone such good health, thanks for the interview.
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Please have Dave Cutler back for another round or bring on more industry veterans to share parts of their life, this is some of the best content I've listened to!
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At a seminar decades ago, Mark Russinovich commented that Dave Cutler is last man in the world to have an entire OS (WinNT) in his head. After hearing this conversation I am inclined to believe it. Respect!
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Dave Cutler is a remarkable individual. I feel privileged to be his friend, and worked with him during the heyday at DEC in the 1970’s. I was on the product management side of the RSX-11M and VMS, VAX-11/750 era, tried to recruit him to Intel (48:52) , and later offered him VC financing (58:34). Dave is the most productive and dedicated individual in the technology field I have ever encountered. His set of accomplishments tells that story, and IMO he deserves more recognition. I am so thankful this history is being recorded.
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What really shocks me to my core is not how much Dave Cutler has done and been a part of. No. What shocks me is that he was a boss that actually knew something. It must have been heavenly to have a boss like that.
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Dave Cutler’s recall of his past experiences, the amount of detail he goes into when telling his stories, is so impressive. He is one of my role models, and I am so grateful to Dave Plummer for making this interview happen.
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Oh my, it's three hours long. Exactly what I'd hoped for...
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Dave C is proof that if you keep your brain active, even at over 80 years old you can still be just as capable as someone in their 20s, but with way more life experience!
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This is such a historical interview and I hope it is saved and available for future generations to watch for decades to come! Thank you!
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How cool! I hired on to DuPont as a Chemical Engineer in 1968 and programmed on two of the machines that Dave Cutler mentions... Univac 1108 (I think he went from Bunker Ramo to DEC without mentioning that the 1107/8 were Univac computers) and the PDP-10 at the Ex Station. I never met Dave (but wish I had) as my programming was exclusively batch.
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He is still coding!? I thought he would have retired by now. Seriously, what a legend!
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his recollection is so good; he can remember details from so long ago easily... he's truly remarkable.
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Timestamps of clips of this interview posted on Dave's Garage (some clips have stuff cut out and the order changed) 0:56 - 5:38 The time Microsoft sent coffins to competitors 5:38 - 14:23 I Could Have Been a COBOL Programmer! 26:15 - 31:01 Software with ZERO bugs 53:44 - 1:01:59 Microsoft's "Pathetic" Operating Systems - Steve Ballmer and Breakfast at Denny's 1:01:59 - 1:10:33 Linux-Xenix-Unix vs OS/2 and Windows 1:37:39 - 1:42:20 Windows Tukwila 3.99 and Windows Cairo 1:51:01 - 1:59:52 Windows Longhorn and the Worst Code I've Ever Seen 2:18:59 - 2:21:11 What Successful Programmers Do That Others Don't
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Dave P you are a tremendous interviewer. Lots of space for the person to answer and knowledgable about the subject. I do hope you continue this as a series.
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brilliant interview, I have watched the clips and now watching the whole thing. amazing. I have programmed PDP-8, PDP-11, VAX, CP/M, DOS, Xenix, OS/2, Windows, and Linux and although 15 years shy of Dave Cutlers age I am still programming. So all this history really resonates with me.
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Dave Cutler is the preson who can use "Don't cite the deep magic to me, I was there when it was written" to more scenarios than any mortal man.
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Fabulous and fascinating history! Thank you, Dave P for thinking of doing this and making it happen. You did a great job interviewing Dave C. Dave C’s departure from DEC, where I worked at the time, felt like an earthquake. He was, and is, one of the best.
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Oh my god, Dave Cutler was my hero back in the days, when I got my hads on leaked windows nt kernel code, reading his design docs and seeing his name on top of source files felt like finding treasures!
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I grew up in a Central-East European small country, and my career has been based mostly on Microsoft's products from the early days of MS-DOS 3.x, Windows 3.x, NT4, 2k, 2k3 etc to Azure nowadays. I read about Dave Cutler sometime in the 90s, and I knew, he is the genius behind the scenes, and he is one of the people affecting and driving my career the most. Watching his interview is a very special experience, for which I am very thankful. If it was 10-20 hours long, I would still watch it. :)
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Would love a second round with Dave Cutler talking about his Xbox work and some of the stories around it. Maybe that’s not possible due to it being more recent work though.
