"On the shoulders of Giants..."

Dennis Ritchie, the creator of C programming and a co-developer of UNIX has passed away, aged 70.

His impact on our lives will go largely unacknowledged, however many of the things we take for granted in everyday life have been created in languages built upon, or with references to C - for instance, iPhone or iPad applications!

It's interesting to note the difference in media coverage between Mr Ritchie and Mr Jobs at the uncannily close times of their passing - despite having arguably similar impacts upon modern life. In fact, it is actually hard to imagine the modern world being as it is now without the impression either of them have made on the way we live our lives.

In reference to Dennis Ritchie, Linus Torvalds, a developer of Linux, once said that he “had hoisted [himself] up on the shoulders of giants.” A fitting accolade for one of the true pioneers of our time.