C language inventor spurns Google's language exam

[The Straight Story]

C language inventor spurns Google's language exam


Google won't allow the co-inventor of Unix and the C language to check-in code, because he won't take the mandatory language test.

Between 1969 and 1973, Ken Thompson implemented a version of the Multics system at Bell, called Unix, with Dennis Ritchie. At the same time he also developed the C language. The speed and simplicity of C helped Unix spread widely. Both have subsequently become quite popular.

Google hired Thompson to create a new language, Go. But Google also requires all of its recruits to pass a language test. According to Thompson, he hasn't quite got round to it yet - and so can't submit code.

The snippet emerged in a book called Coders At Work, published last September. We don't know if the information is still current, or whether Thompson has finally allowed himself to be subject to a humiliating examination on the language he invented by an acne-scarred, know-it-all Oompa-Loompa who is absent-mindedly flicking paper pellets into a Starbucks cup while Twittering.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/21/ken_thompson_take_our_test/

[bananas]

1. lol - "acne-scarred, know-it-all Oompa-Loompa"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oompa-Loompa

Employees of Google are sometimes humorously referred to as Oompa-Loompas.<2><3>

[RandomThoughts]

2. The question is do they have ability to effect social directions.

If so, should they be allowed to have secret algorithms.

However most people are good, and if they were doing anything unethical, someone there would blow the whistle on them.

Of coarse you might not find it on a search engine result :)




I don't know anything about the working of Google, but I do know some of my posting have not appeared in my google searches. I have not spent the time to check if scrubbing is based on the user searching, or end content searched for, but there are some inconsistencies that indicate attempts at information control.

Although my guess is the Google people are more good then bad, the concepts of secrecy can lead to corruption, or less then best actions. Google has many good programs, open source programs, and they seem to have made a way to search without having a cost attached to it. And I want to think they have ethical ideas of not manipulating information flow, although if there is secrecy, there is a reason for it, and that reason can be either good or bad.

They also refused when Bush asked them for information on people that they thought was unconstitutional, a brave and bold stand that does deserve some respect, if it is true.

[RandomThoughts]

3. A note about The Chocolate Factory.

Each person did something wrong, maybe saying everyone is flawed.

But what was the factor that picked the new person? Not what they did.

But if they could keep a chocolate secret. That overall morality of that movie, I find bad.