Oral History: Ken Thompson on Co-creating Unix, C’s Origins, and the Go Programming Language

This oral history interview is a valuable primary source for understanding the development of Unix and C, as well as the broader history of computing. Ken Thompson’s firsthand account offers unique insights into the technical decisions, collaborative processes, and cultural environment at Bell Labs. The interview is conducted by David C. Brock, a professional historian, who asks informed questions that elicit detailed and reflective responses. Thompson’s recollections are remarkably detailed, covering not only technical aspects but also personal anecdotes and the social dynamics of the computing community. The interview’s length (over four hours) allows for an in-depth exploration of topics, from Thompson’s early life to his later work at Google. While the content is highly technical, it is presented in an accessible manner, making it suitable for a broad audience interested in computing history. The interview does not include external sources or citations, but as a primary account, it serves as a foundational reference. The title accurately reflects the content, and the interview’s authenticity and depth make it an excellent resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike. The only minor limitation is that, as a single individual’s account, it may contain subjective perspectives, but this is inherent to oral history and does not detract from its value.

The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on Ken Thompson's contributions to Unix, C, and Go, as discussed in the interview.

9/10

Primary source oral history interview with a Turing Award winner, conducted by a professional historian, with detailed technical recollections and contextual insights. High credibility due to first-hand account and institutional backing.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:20Introduction and family background
• 02:14Early education and living abroad
• 08:59Early hobbies: forts, radios, and robots
• 17:29Discovering chess
• 20:28Binary arithmetic and logic
• 1:00:00Recruitment to Bell Labs and Multics project
• 2:00:00Development of Unix and C
• 3:00:00Turing Award lecture and compiler security
• 4:00:00Work on Plan 9 and later career at Google

• Computer History Museum Catalog Entry — Official catalog entry for the oral history interview, providing additional context and transcript access.

• The Unix Operating System — Wikipedia article on Unix, corroborating the historical details of its development.
• The C Programming Language — Wikipedia article on C, confirming its origins and design.