Niklaus Wirth’s legacy in computer science is one of simplicity and profound impact. His creation of Pascal (named after the 17th-century French mathematician) revolutionized programming, making it more accessible and structured. Early computer languages (e.g., Basic, Fortran) were clunky to use and anything but elegant. Many today think computing is much too complex. As an undergraduate student, I took a Pascal class, in addition to a Fortran class, among many others. In those days, we programmed on cards and used card readers.
When Wirth passed away in early 2024 at the age of 89, his philosophy—that simplicity fosters understanding—was not just a technical achievement, but a vision that transformed the way developers approach programming languages. He could also be seen as an early proponent of open-source innovation as he sent source code for Pascal free of charge.
Wirth’s philosophy on accessible, streamlined design is distinct. Just as Wirth made computational concepts more digestible, I work to make intricate organizational or strategic frameworks understandable. In my experience, the best solutions emerge when we simplify and distill, and this is a lesson I often pass on to my students. I often ask, “if you were explaining this concept or framework to your grandmother, what would you say?” When you can distill ideas to their core, this is when you also demonstrate the deepest understanding.
Wirth was born in Switzerland and received his undergraduate degree at ETH Zurich and his doctorate from Berkeley. After receiving his PhD he worked at Stanford but spent the last three decades of his career at ETH Zurich. As a child, Wirth tinkers with engines, model airplanes, remote toy helicopters, and radios, sparking his interest in computers. While many in computer science are more famous (e.g. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates), Wirth represents one of those scientists who changed modern computing and is little known outside of the immediate field of computers and computer software. His work propelled work on the computer at Apple. Wirth was on sabbatical at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) when his work influenced the work of Alan Kay, who created the Xerox Alto computer—the very one that inspired Steve Jobs after his visit to Xerox PARC.
Dearly Departed profiles are the musings of SC Innovates’ Director and SmartState Endowed Chair Laura B. Cardinal. Cardinal is an academic researcher and teaches Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation at the University of South Carolina (USC) Darla Moore School of Business Professional MBA program. Her series of courses includes the Strategic Innovation Certificate. Cardinal’s courses offer a unique fusion of innovation, business strategy, science, and technology.