# Yukihiro Matsumoto

> Japanese computer scientist who created the Ruby programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q92748](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q92748)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukihiro_Matsumoto)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yukihiro-matsumoto

## Summary
Yukihiro Matsumoto is a Japanese computer scientist and programmer best known as the creator of the Ruby programming language. Often referred to by his pseudonym "Matz," he is a significant figure in the free software movement and has been recognized with the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software. He currently resides in Japan and is employed by Heroku.

## Biography
- **Born:** April 14, 1965, in Osaka Prefecture, Japan
- **Nationality:** Japanese
- **Education:** University of Tsukuba
- **Known for:** Creating the Ruby programming language and its reference implementation, Ruby MRI
- **Employer(s):** Heroku
- **Field(s):** Computer programming; Software engineering
- **Other Roles:** Computer Scientist

## Contributions
Yukihiro Matsumoto's most significant contribution to the technology sector is the creation of the Ruby programming language (referenced in sources as Q161053). He developed the original reference implementation, known as Ruby MRI, which laid the foundation for Ruby's widespread adoption in web development and software engineering.

As a proponent of the free software movement, Matsumoto has dedicated his career to open-source development. His work focuses on computer programming and software design, emphasizing productivity and enjoyment for developers. In recognition of his impact on the open-source community, he received the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software in 2011, awarded by the Free Software Foundation. Beyond language design, he maintains an active presence in the global developer community through his personal website and social media channels.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Yukihiro Matsumoto's nickname?
A: He is widely known by the pseudonym "Matz."

### Q: What programming language did Yukihiro Matsumoto create?
A: He created the Ruby programming language and its original implementation, Ruby MRI.

### Q: Has Yukihiro Matsumoto received any major awards?
A: Yes, he received the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software in 2011 for his contributions to the free software community.

### Q: Where did Yukihiro Matsumoto receive his education?
A: He was educated at the University of Tsukuba.

## Why They Matter
Yukihiro Matsumoto matters profoundly to the software engineering industry because he introduced a language that prioritized programmer happiness and productivity, influencing the design philosophies of subsequent languages. As the creator of Ruby, he provided the toolset that powers major frameworks (such as Ruby on Rails, though the framework itself is not detailed in the source, the language is the prerequisite) and countless enterprise applications worldwide. His recognition by the Free Software Foundation underscores his role not just as a coder, but as a leader in the movement for software freedom. By crafting a language that is both elegant and powerful, Matsumoto shifted aspects of the industry toward more human-centric code design. His continued work at Heroku and his status as a "Rock Star" in the tech community (evidenced by his large social media following) highlight his enduring relevance.

## Notable For
- **Creator of Ruby:** Designed the Ruby programming language and the Ruby MRI reference implementation.
- **Open Source Advocate:** A recognized leader in the free software movement.
- **Award Winner:** Recipient of the 2011 FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software.
- **Industry Influence:** Employed by Heroku; educated at the University of Tsukuba.
- **Online Presence:** Maintains a significant following on social media platforms like Twitter and GitHub under the handle "matz."

## Body

### Early Life and Background
Yukihiro Matsumoto was born on April 14, 1965, in the Osaka Prefecture of Japan. He holds Japanese citizenship and currently resides in Japan. His name in his native language (Japanese) is 松本行弘, and his name in Kana is まつもと ゆきひろ. In the tech community, he is almost exclusively known by his pseudonym, "Matz."

### Academic and Professional Career
Matsumoto was educated at the University of Tsukuba. He is recognized professionally as a computer scientist, programmer, and software engineer. His primary field of work is computer programming. Professionally, he has been employed by the cloud platform company Heroku.

### Creation of Ruby
Matsumoto is defined by his creation of the Ruby programming language. He developed the primary reference implementation known as Ruby MRI. This work established him as a central figure in software development, specifically within the free software movement. His design work remains a critical component of modern web infrastructure.

### Recognition and Personal Life
In 2011, Matsumoto was honored with the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software (awarded on March 25, 2012, for the year 2011). He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and speaks Japanese. He has four children.

### Digital Presence
Matsumoto maintains a robust online identity. He operates a personal website (rubyist.net/~matz) and is active on GitHub (username: matz) and Twitter (username: yukihiro_matz). As of February 2023, his social media following exceeded 88,000. His various identifiers across academic and library databases include ISNI 0000000117014087 and VIAF ID 120742144.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints](https://www.mormon.org/jpn/me/9nm5)
3. [Source](https://www.fsf.org/news/2011-free-software-awards-announced)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. CiNii Research
6. gayanvoice / top-github-users
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. [Yukihiro Matsumoto | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL1483855A/Yukihiro_Matsumoto)
9. IdRef
10. Quora