Legend: Operating System "God" David Cutler

David Cutler, the chief designer of VMS and Windows NT, was one of the best kernel developers in Silicon Valley before going to Microsoft in 1988. He has been engaged in operating systems for decades, in the meantime, the experience is like a standard record of Youth struggle in other provinces.

Like many predecessors in the computer industry, David Cutler was not born in the computer science class. He took a bachelor's degree in mathematics at the university and focused on physics, enthusiastically think of as an engineer who builds things. Therefore, after graduation, he entered the Dupont Company for material testing. By chance, David was assigned to run the simulation on Dec's computer.ProgramYou can also compile a central control program for Multiple Single-host real-time systems to schedule various tasks and monitor system operations. This experience not only enriches David's software knowledge, but also makes a major decision: to develop an operating system for a company that is truly engaged in computer business.

In 1971, David Cutler left Dupont and came to Dec. His first task was to develop an operating system-PDP-11 for DEC's RSX-11M microprocessor. PDP-11 is a 16-bit microprocessor designed for industrial control and manufacturing control. Combining the overall concept and design principles, David uses the assembly language to implement multiple system functions in a very limited memory space, such: tree file system, exchange application, real-time scheduling, and a set of development tools. According to David, at that time, even his rubber stamps were engraved with the goal of developing the operating system-"capacity is everything !" Later, these concepts and principles were reflected in NT.

In late 1970s, Dec developed a 32-bit VAX processor based on PDP-11. Correspondingly, we also need to develop a VAX-based operating system VMS, to be compatible with RSX-11M, can run on machines of different sizes. David Cutler becomes the project owner and designs the VMS architecture. VMS 1977 was launched in 1.0. David's only regret is that VMS was written in assembly language to cater to the business progress, even though it was completely available in advanced languages. Therefore, technically correct things are not necessarily the best choice for business. Later, David continued to develop a later version of VMS, but he was impatient. In 1981, David threatened to leave dec. To retain its star developers, Dec gave David about 200 software and hardware engineers. David moved his team to Seattle and established a development center. The goal of this elite group is to design a new CPU architecture and operating system that can bring DEC to 1990s. Dec calls the group's Hardware Project Prism and the operating system is mica.

Unfortunately, the prism project was canceled by DEC in 1988, and many project members were also dismissed. Therefore, David Cutler began to disagree. At this time, in order to fight against UNIX and develop a new operating system in the future, Bill Gates tried his best to persuade David to join Microsoft. David went, and brought many programmers who developed VMS and mica together with him. After entering Microsoft, David leads an engineering team responsible for designing a Symmetric Multi-processing solution that provides file services, print services, and application services. Windows New Technology (NT ). This is the new weapon Bill Gates wants to use against UNIX.

After nearly four years of development, the first version of Windows NT June 1993 was released in 3.1, has taken shape of modern operating systems-preemptive multitasking, virtual memory, symmetric multi-processor, graphic interface, C2 security level, robust and stable kernel, built-in network support, complete 32-bitCode. The Windows NT 1994 launched in 3.51 and the Windows NT 1996 launched in 4.0 are further improved in performance. NT4.0 even provides the most advanced windows 95 style interface at that time. David Cutler continues to climb on his own ladder, and Bill Gates is still smiling in front of sales figures.

There is no doubt that the NT operating system has an excellent kernel. David Cutler has successfully introduced the idea of the hardware abstraction layer and Kernel Object genius. Although we cannot see itSource codeBut in the process of studying nt DDK, there may always be some bright spots in the documents written by David, so that we can talk to masters in different time spaces.
Today, built on NT technology's Windows 2000 and XP are well known, and XP for 64-bit processors is coming soon. Looking back at the course of operating system development, David couldn't help but sigh: "I don't know, I am so lucky to be able to develop several operating systems in my lifetime. For anyone, even developing only one is a rare opportunity."

Yes, David Cutler has done it. It has been around for decades in the operating system field and has created many legends and myths. However, who will look at his decades of concentration, loneliness, effort, and hardship? You may set a goal when starting your career. However, only a few people will hold on to their goals and devote themselves to them. In the end, these people will become the winners and Technical Talents in our eyes. Perhaps, this is what makes a genius different from an ordinary person.