From: mk_thisisit
Professor Aleksander Nawrocki, a Pole, is recognized as a co-creator of Java, one of the world’s most famous programming languages [00:00:31]. His involvement stems from his background as a programmer, a profession he pursued throughout his life [00:23:16].
Co-creation and Role
Nawrocki was primarily responsible for the real-time programming aspects of Java [00:23:34]. The development of the language was not linked to an academic center but rather conducted by the Institute of Standardization near Bethesda, Washington [00:23:53]. A team was formed under their direction [00:24:09]. At the time of this project, Nawrocki was the vice president of a software company in California, overseeing a large team of over 1000 programming engineers across various offices in Sweden, Germany, England, France, and several U.S. cities [00:24:25].
Origins and Influences
The development of Java emerged from the team’s work with Ada, a language initially used by NASA’s military [00:24:50]. The intention was to create something similar to Ada [00:25:02]. An interesting anecdote about its name is that “Java” has nothing to do with coffee; it comes from the location of Bethesda where the project was conducted [00:25:22].
Leadership and Challenges
Aleksander Nawrocki led the Java consortium for two years [00:25:44]. During this period, Microsoft was considered a significant “enemy” due to their desire to own the Java language [00:25:53].
Impact on Polish Programmers
Professor Nawrocki currently runs businesses with teams of programmers in Poland [00:27:17]. As a visiting professor at the Lublin University of Technology, he observes a wide range of skill levels among students, with some being exceptionally good and others very weak [00:27:36]. He emphasizes that a professional life involves three stages: learning, acquiring knowledge, and developing skills to change the world [00:28:23].
He notes a negative aspect of education in Poland: young people are taught programming too late, despite the availability of modern tools like iPads and iPhones [00:40:42]. He believes this task should fall under the Ministry of Education [00:41:17].