# Colin Percival

> Canadian programmer and computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q64743585](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64743585)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Percival)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colin-percival

## Summary
Colin Percival is a Canadian programmer and computer scientist known for creating the scrypt password-based key derivation function, as well as the notable works Tarsnap and BSDIFF. He holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Oxford.

## Biography
- Born: Burnaby
- Nationality: Canada
- Education:
    - Bachelor of Science in mathematics, Simon Fraser University (1994-2000)
    - Doctor of Philosophy in computer science, University of Oxford (2001-2005)
    - Burnaby Central Secondary School
- Known for: Tarsnap, scrypt, BSDIFF
- Field(s): Computer science, programming

## Contributions
Colin Percival is primarily recognized for developing scrypt, a password-based key derivation function. This function is designed to derive cryptographic keys from passwords, providing a robust method for securing user credentials by making brute-force attacks computationally expensive. He is also credited with the creation of Tarsnap and BSDIFF, both listed as notable works. His academic contributions include a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the University of Oxford, completed in 2005, where he was advised by Richard P. Brent and William Finlay McColl. Earlier, he earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Simon Fraser University in 2000. In 1999, he was honored as a Putnam Fellow.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Colin Percival known for?
A: Colin Percival is known for creating the scrypt password-based key derivation function, as well as his notable works Tarsnap and BSDIFF. He is a Canadian programmer and computer scientist.

### Q: What is scrypt?
A: Scrypt is a password-based key derivation function developed by Colin Percival. It is designed to derive cryptographic keys from passwords in a computationally intensive manner, enhancing security against brute-force attacks.

### Q: Where did Colin Percival receive his education?
A: Colin Percival earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Simon Fraser University (1994-2000) and a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the University of Oxford (2001-2005).

### Q: What award has Colin Percival received?
A: Colin Percival was recognized as a Putnam Fellow in 1999.

## Why They Matter
Colin Percival's work, particularly the development of the scrypt password-based key derivation function, holds significant importance in the field of cybersecurity. Scrypt's design, which intentionally makes it computationally intensive, has provided a more robust method for securing user passwords and deriving cryptographic keys, thereby enhancing protection against various forms of digital attacks, such as brute-force attempts. His contributions as a programmer and computer scientist, alongside his academic achievements including a Ph.D. from the University of Oxford, underscore his foundational impact on secure computing practices. His innovations have provided practical tools that influence how digital security is implemented and maintained across various systems.

## Notable For
*   Creator of the scrypt password-based key derivation function.
*   Developer of Tarsnap and BSDIFF.
*   Recipient of the Putnam Fellow award in 1999.
*   Holds a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science from the University of Oxford.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Colin Percival was born in Burnaby, Canada. He attended Burnaby Central Secondary School. He pursued higher education at Simon Fraser University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics between 1994 and 2000. Following this, he attended the University of Oxford from 2001 to 2005, completing a Doctor of Philosophy in computer science. His doctoral advisors at Oxford were Richard P. Brent and William Finlay McColl.

### Career and Research
Percival is recognized as a programmer and computer scientist. His notable works include:
*   **scrypt**: A password-based key derivation function.
*   **Tarsnap**
*   **BSDIFF**

### Awards and Recognition
In 1999, Colin Percival was awarded the distinction of Putnam Fellow.

### Online Presence
Colin Percival maintains an active online presence across various platforms:
*   **Website**: http://www.daemonology.net/
*   **Official Blog**: https://www.daemonology.net/blog/
*   **Twitter**: @cperciva (with over 14,668 followers as of February 6, 2023)
*   **GitHub**: cperciva
*   **Reddit**: perciva
*   **Hacker News**: cperciva
*   **LinkedIn**: colin-percival-8269672
*   **Facebook**: colin.percival.56
*   **Patreon**: cperciva
*   **Slashdot**: cperciva

### Academic Identifiers
*   **ISNI**: 0000000134833121
*   **DBLP Author ID**: 27/6224
*   **Google Scholar Author ID**: ZPhSzXoAAAAJ
*   **Mathematics Genealogy Project ID**: 123746
*   **MR Author ID**: 703401

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## References

1. [Source](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/17/technology/news-watch-putting-less-than-super-computers-on-pi-s-trail.html)
2. LinkedIn
3. Mathematics Genealogy Project
4. List of previous Putnam winners