# Brian Kernighan

> Canadian computer scientist, co-inventor of the Unix operating system

**Wikidata**: [Q92608](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92608)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Kernighan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/brian-kernighan

## Summary
Brian Kernighan is a Canadian computer scientist best known as a co-inventor of the Unix operating system. He is also recognized for his contributions to programming languages, including co-authoring *The C Programming Language*, and developing tools like the Unix macro processor `m4` and the AMPL modeling language.

## Biography
- **Born**: January 1, 1942, in Toronto, Canada
- **Nationality**: Canadian, American
- **Education**:
  - Bachelor's in Engineering Physics, University of Toronto (1960–1964)
  - Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Princeton University (1969)
- **Known for**: Co-developing Unix, authoring *The C Programming Language*, and creating programming tools like `m4` and AMPL
- **Employer(s)**: Bell Labs (1969–2000), Princeton University (current)
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, programming languages, informatics

## Contributions
Brian Kernighan co-developed the Unix operating system at Bell Labs in the 1970s, a foundational system influencing modern computing. He co-authored *The C Programming Language* (1978) with Dennis Ritchie, which became the definitive guide to the C language. Kernighan also created the Unix macro processor `m4` (1977) and co-developed the AMPL algebraic modeling language (1985). His work on programming tools and languages has shaped software development practices, and his books remain essential references in computer science education.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Brian Kernighan best known for?
A: He is best known for co-inventing the Unix operating system and co-authoring *The C Programming Language*, a seminal book on the C programming language.

### Q: Where did Brian Kernighan work?
A: He worked at Bell Labs from 1969 to 2000 and is currently affiliated with Princeton University.

### Q: What programming tools did Kernighan create?
A: He developed the Unix macro processor `m4` (1977) and co-created the AMPL modeling language (1985).

### Q: What degrees does Brian Kernighan hold?
A: He holds a Bachelor's in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.

### Q: Is Brian Kernighan still active in computer science?
A: Yes, he remains active as a professor at Princeton University and continues to contribute to the field.

## Why They Matter
Brian Kernighan's work on Unix and C programming laid the groundwork for modern operating systems and software development. His books and tools have educated generations of programmers, while his research at Bell Labs advanced computational systems. Without his contributions, foundational technologies like Unix and C might not have achieved their widespread adoption, shaping the digital infrastructure we rely on today.

## Notable For
- Co-inventor of the Unix operating system
- Co-author of *The C Programming Language* (1978)
- Creator of the Unix macro processor `m4` (1977)
- Co-developer of the AMPL modeling language (1985)
- Member of the National Academy of Engineering (since 2002)

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Brian Wilson Kernighan was born on January 1, 1942, in Toronto, Canada. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Toronto (1960–1964) and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University (1969), where his dissertation focused on graph partitioning problems.

### Career at Bell Labs
Kernighan joined Bell Labs in 1969, where he collaborated on the development of Unix alongside Dennis Ritchie and others. His work included creating the `m4` macro processor (1977) and contributing to the C programming language. He co-authored *The C Programming Language* (1978), which became a standard reference for programmers.

### Later Work and Legacy
After leaving Bell Labs in 2000, Kernighan joined Princeton University, where he continues to teach and research. He co-developed AMPL (1985), a modeling language for mathematical programming. His influence extends to computer science education, with his books and tools remaining widely used.

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## References

1. [Source](http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7035)
2. YouTube video
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. BnF authorities
5. [Source](https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7035)
6. [Source](https://www.cs.princeton.edu/people/profile/bwk)
7. Mathematics Genealogy Project
8. Integrated Authority File
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. CiNii Research
12. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
13. Quora
14. LIBRIS. 2002