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Howard G. CunninghamAmerican programmer, inventor of wiki technology
Date of Birth: 26.05.1949
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- Ward Cunningham: The Father of Wiki Technology
- Invention of Wiki Technology
- Etymology of "Wiki"
- Career
- AboutUs
- Interesting Facts
- Ham Radio Operator
Ward Cunningham: The Father of Wiki Technology
Early Life and EducationWard Cunningham was born on May 26, 1949, in Michigan City, Indiana. He later obtained a Bachelor's degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Invention of Wiki Technology
In the late 1980s, Cunningham began developing the concept of wiki. He first implemented this concept in the mid-1990s.
On March 25, 1995, the first wiki site, "Portland Pattern Repository," was launched using this technology. To power this site, Cunningham created the first wiki engine, WikiWikiWeb.
Etymology of "Wiki"
Cunningham explained the choice of the engine's name by recalling an employee at the Honolulu International Airport who advised him to use the "wiki-wiki" shuttle—a small bus running between the airport's terminals. The word "wiki" in Hawaiian means "fast," reflecting Cunningham's intent to create an engine that allowed users to edit and create articles swiftly.
Career
Microsoft and Eclipse FoundationFrom 2003 to Fall 2005, Cunningham worked at Microsoft Corporation. From October 2005 to 2007, he served as the director of the Eclipse Foundation.
AboutUs
Since 2007, Cunningham has been working as the chief engineer for the company AboutUs.
Interesting Facts
Cunningham's LawWard Cunningham is credited as the author of a humorous law bearing his name. Cunningham's Law states: "The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer."
Stephen McGeady later popularized Cunningham's Law, noting ironically that Wikipedia is a prime example of its validity, although Cunningham himself made the original observation about Usenet interactions.
Ham Radio Operator
Cunningham holds an FCC Amateur Extra Class Radio License. His call sign is Kilo Nine Oscar X-ray, K9OX.