Gordon Letwin
Encyclopedia
James Gordon Letwin is an American
software developer
and one of the original twelve Microsoft
employees.
Prior to joining Microsoft, he worked for Heathkit
, on HDOS
and Benton Harbor Basic.
While at Microsoft, Letwin worked on a number of projects. His first project at Microsoft was writing a BASIC compiler. He is most noted for being the lead architect of the OS/2
operating system
on the Microsoft side, with Ed Iacobucci
being the lead architect from IBM
's side. Letwin contributed much of the design and code for several core components, including the HPFS file system
.
Letwin left Microsoft in 1993 to "kick back" with his wife. While at Microsoft he had become a millionaire, with a 2000 TIME
article estimating his worth at around $20 million. Since leaving Microsoft, Letwin has donated substantial amounts of money to environmental causes via the Wilburforce Foundation, a charitable foundation created by him and his wife, Rose.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
software developer
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 one of the original twelve Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
employees.
Prior to joining Microsoft, he worked for Heathkit
Heathkit
Heathkits were products of the Heath Company, Benton Harbor, Michigan. Their products included electronic test equipment, high fidelity home audio equipment, television receivers, amateur radio equipment, electronic ignition conversion modules for early model cars with point style ignitions, and...
, on HDOS
HDOS
HDOS is an early microcomputer operating system, originally written for the Heathkit H8 computer system and later also available for the Heath H89 and Zenith Z-89 computers...
and Benton Harbor Basic.
While at Microsoft, Letwin worked on a number of projects. His first project at Microsoft was writing a BASIC compiler. He is most noted for being the lead architect of the OS/2
OS/2
OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal...
operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
on the Microsoft side, with Ed Iacobucci
Ed Iacobucci
Edward E. Iacobucci was the leader of the IBM OS/2 Design Team. In 1989, he founded the US software company Citrix Systems. He was also the former president and CEO of DayJet, an on-demand regional jet travel service, and was a member of the SCO Group's Board of Directors from 2000.Ed Iacobucci...
being the lead architect from IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
's side. Letwin contributed much of the design and code for several core components, including the HPFS file system
File system
A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
.
Letwin left Microsoft in 1993 to "kick back" with his wife. While at Microsoft he had become a millionaire, with a 2000 TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
article estimating his worth at around $20 million. Since leaving Microsoft, Letwin has donated substantial amounts of money to environmental causes via the Wilburforce Foundation, a charitable foundation created by him and his wife, Rose.
External links
- Long Usenet post by Letwin explaining what happened to OS/2 from Microsoft's point of view - August 1995
- Summary of his work at Heathkit on HDOS prior to joining Microsoft - 1980
- What Happened To The People In Microsoft's Iconic 1978 Company Photo - Business Insider, January 2011