# James S. Plank

> American computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q102265253](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q102265253)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/james-s-plank

## Summary

James S. Plank was born on August 6, 1966[1]. He pursued higher education at Princeton University and Yale University[2][3].His professional work is centered in the field of neuromorphic engineering[3]. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers[3].

## Summary
James S. Plank is an American computer scientist and professor known for creating **Jgraph**, a widely used graphing tool for Unix systems, and for his contributions to software engineering and neuromorphic engineering. He is a senior member of the IEEE and has held academic positions at the University of Tennessee.

## Biography
- **Born**: August 6, 1966
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**:
  - Princeton University
  - Yale University (doctoral advisor: Kai Li)
- **Known for**: Developing Jgraph, a popular graphing tool for Unix, and contributions to software engineering
- **Employer(s)**: University of Tennessee
- **Field(s)**: Computer science, software engineering, neuromorphic engineering

## Contributions
James S. Plank is best known for creating **Jgraph**, a computer program for plotting graphs in PostScript, first released in 1989. The tool became widely adopted and is now included in most Unix installations. He also developed **Jerasure**, a software library for erasure coding, and **GF-Complete**, a fast Galois Field arithmetic library in C/C++. His work spans software engineering, with a focus on practical tools and libraries that enhance computational efficiency. Plank has published research in neuromorphic engineering and has been an active contributor to open-source projects.

## FAQs
### Q: What is James S. Plank best known for?
A: James S. Plank is best known for creating **Jgraph**, a widely used graphing tool for Unix systems, and for his contributions to software engineering and neuromorphic engineering.

### Q: Where does James S. Plank work?
A: He is affiliated with the **University of Tennessee**, where he has held academic positions.

### Q: What are some of James S. Plank’s notable software projects?
A: His notable projects include **Jgraph** (1989), **Jerasure**, and **GF-Complete**, a Galois Field arithmetic library.

### Q: Who was James S. Plank’s doctoral advisor?
A: His doctoral advisor was **Kai Li**, a prominent computer scientist.

### Q: What fields does James S. Plank work in?
A: His primary fields are **computer science, software engineering, and neuromorphic engineering**.

## Why They Matter
James S. Plank’s work has had a lasting impact on software engineering and computational tools. **Jgraph**, his most widely recognized contribution, became a standard tool in Unix environments, demonstrating his ability to create practical, high-impact software. His libraries, such as **Jerasure** and **GF-Complete**, have advanced data storage and error correction techniques. As an educator at the University of Tennessee, he has influenced future generations of computer scientists. His research in neuromorphic engineering also contributes to the development of brain-inspired computing systems.

## Notable For
- Creator of **Jgraph**, a widely used Unix graphing tool (1989)
- Developer of **Jerasure** and **GF-Complete** libraries
- Senior member of the **Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)**
- Researcher in **neuromorphic engineering**
- Doctoral advisor: **Kai Li**

## Body
### Early Life and Education
- Born on **August 6, 1966**, in the United States.
- Earned degrees from **Princeton University** and **Yale University**, where he studied under **Kai Li**.

### Career and Affiliations
- Affiliated with the **University of Tennessee**, where he has contributed to research and education in computer science.
- Senior member of the **IEEE**, recognizing his contributions to the field.

### Key Software Contributions
- **Jgraph (1989)**: A PostScript graphing tool widely adopted in Unix systems.
- **Jerasure**: A software library for erasure coding, improving data reliability.
- **GF-Complete**: A high-performance Galois Field arithmetic library in C/C++.

### Research and Publications
- Active in **neuromorphic engineering**, contributing to brain-inspired computing research.
- Published works available through **ACM Digital Library**, **IEEE Xplore**, and **Google Scholar**.

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## References

1. Mathematics Genealogy Project
2. IEEE Xplore
3. Library of Congress
4. [Source](https://dl.acm.org/profile/81100280916)
5. [Source](https://academictree.org/computerscience/grants.php?pid=416285)