Brendan Kehoe
Encyclopedia
Brendan Patrick Kehoe was an Irish-born software developer
and author. Born in Dublin, he was raised in China, Maine
in the United States. In his early teens, he was first exposed to computing when he was given a Commodore 64
computer and he used this machine to teach himself about computing and computer networks. On leaving high-school, he moved to Widener University
where he continued his computer studies, leaving in 1992.
. His first book, Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide, first published by Prentice Hall
in July 1992 was the first mass-published user's guide to the Internet. Written while still at Widener, he struck a bargain with the publishers to ensure that the original edition of the book would remain free-of-charge in the internet for everyone to access. In a survey taken by PC Magazine
for the twentieth anniversary of the PC, Zen and the Art of the Internet was listed as one of the "top sci-fi/tech non-fiction book of the past twenty years" (1981–2001). It also appeared on Sergey Brin's
"Favorite Booklist". As one of the first substantial books freely available for reuse on the Internet, Zen predated and helped to inspire the free culture movement
. Parts of it were reworked into other works including the Electronic Frontier Foundation
's Guide to the Internet.
Kehoe was a dedicated and detailed programmer, who, as a student, volunteered changes to one of the most complex pieces of free software in the world at the time, the GNU C++ Compiler
and Library
. His unusual skill at wrangling this code led to a fulltime job as a key employee of Cygnus Support
in Silicon Valley
in 1992, improving, supporting and documenting this code base. By 1995 he was managing the entire GNU C++ group at Cygnus.
Later in life he volunteered doing IT support for his local school, the Dalkey School Project
. This led to positions as a member of its Board of Management, and from there to being Chairperson of the school. In 2010 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Educate Together
.
He was described by Eric S. Raymond
after his death as, "a true hacker and a gentleman".
including aphasia
. He subsequently made a full recovery. He was married on October 5, 1996. He lived in Dublin, Ireland
with his wife and two children.
At the beginning of March 2011, Kehoe was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia
. He underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease but succumbed to it on July 19, 2011.
Software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
and author. Born in Dublin, he was raised in China, Maine
China, Maine
China is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,106 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
in the United States. In his early teens, he was first exposed to computing when he was given a Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
computer and he used this machine to teach himself about computing and computer networks. On leaving high-school, he moved to Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
where he continued his computer studies, leaving in 1992.
Career
He wrote two books and a number of technology articles in the specialist press (e.g., Boardwatch Magazine) on the topic of the InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. His first book, Zen and the Art of the Internet: A Beginner's Guide, first published by Prentice Hall
Prentice Hall
Prentice Hall is a major educational publisher. It is an imprint of Pearson Education, Inc., based in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, USA. Prentice Hall publishes print and digital content for the 6-12 and higher-education market. Prentice Hall distributes its technical titles through the Safari...
in July 1992 was the first mass-published user's guide to the Internet. Written while still at Widener, he struck a bargain with the publishers to ensure that the original edition of the book would remain free-of-charge in the internet for everyone to access. In a survey taken by PC Magazine
PC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
for the twentieth anniversary of the PC, Zen and the Art of the Internet was listed as one of the "top sci-fi/tech non-fiction book of the past twenty years" (1981–2001). It also appeared on Sergey Brin's
Sergey Brin
Sergey Mikhaylovich Brin is a Russian-born American computer scientist and internet entrepreneur who, with Larry Page, co-founded Google, one of the largest internet companies. , his personal wealth is estimated to be $16.7 billion....
"Favorite Booklist". As one of the first substantial books freely available for reuse on the Internet, Zen predated and helped to inspire the free culture movement
Free Culture movement
The free culture movement is a social movement that promotes the freedom to distribute and modify creative works in the form of free content by using the Internet and other forms of media....
. Parts of it were reworked into other works including the Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non-profit digital rights advocacy and legal organization based in the United States...
's Guide to the Internet.
Kehoe was a dedicated and detailed programmer, who, as a student, volunteered changes to one of the most complex pieces of free software in the world at the time, the GNU C++ Compiler
GNU Compiler Collection
The GNU Compiler Collection is a compiler system produced by the GNU Project supporting various programming languages. GCC is a key component of the GNU toolchain...
and Library
C++ standard library
In C++, the C++ Standard Library is a collection of classes and functions, which are written in the core language and part of the C++ ISO Standard itself...
. His unusual skill at wrangling this code led to a fulltime job as a key employee of Cygnus Support
Cygnus Solutions
Cygnus Solutions, originally Cygnus Support, was founded in 1989 by John Gilmore, Michael Tiemann and David Henkel-Wallace to provide commercial support for free software...
in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
in 1992, improving, supporting and documenting this code base. By 1995 he was managing the entire GNU C++ group at Cygnus.
Later in life he volunteered doing IT support for his local school, the Dalkey School Project
Dalkey School Project
The Dalkey School Project is a school in Glenageary, County Dublin in Ireland. It was set up on September 18, 1978 by parents in Dublin who wanted their children to attend a Multidenominational school....
. This led to positions as a member of its Board of Management, and from there to being Chairperson of the school. In 2010 he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Educate Together
Educate Together
Educate Together is an organisation in the Republic of Ireland which sets up and runs multidenominational, coeducational schools. It was founded in 1984 as a result of the Dalkey School Project to found a multidenominational primary school....
.
He was described by Eric S. Raymond
Eric S. Raymond
Eric Steven Raymond , often referred to as ESR, is an American computer programmer, author and open source software advocate. After the 1997 publication of The Cathedral and the Bazaar, Raymond was for a number of years frequently quoted as an unofficial spokesman for the open source movement...
after his death as, "a true hacker and a gentleman".
Personal life
On December 31, 1993, Kehoe and a friend, Sven Heinicke, were involved in a serious car accident that left Kehoe with brain injuriesBrain damage
"Brain damage" or "brain injury" is the destruction or degeneration of brain cells. Brain injuries occur due to a wide range of internal and external factors...
including aphasia
Aphasia
Aphasia is an impairment of language ability. This class of language disorder ranges from having difficulty remembering words to being completely unable to speak, read, or write....
. He subsequently made a full recovery. He was married on October 5, 1996. He lived in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
with his wife and two children.
At the beginning of March 2011, Kehoe was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia , also known as acute myelogenous leukemia, is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal white blood cells that accumulate in the bone marrow and interfere with the production of normal blood cells. AML is the most common acute...
. He underwent chemotherapy to fight the disease but succumbed to it on July 19, 2011.
External links
- Brendan Kehoe's domain
- First (and free) edition of Zen and the art of the Internet
- Computer Underground Digest article about Brendan's accident
- Brendan Kehoe: an appreciation by Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa in the Sunday Business Post, 24 July 2011