From OCCAM and CSP to Java

An airhacks.fm conversation with Kevlin Henney (@KevlinHenney)
about: first computer was a Sinclair ZX81 with 1K of memory,
programming in Basic and later Z80 assembly language, creating
simulations like volcano explosions and n-body problems as a
teenager, transitioning to the ZX Spectrum and other early home
computers, studying physics at university but becoming more
interested in programming, learning fortran, getting his first
programming job at a small software house in Bristol where his boss
had a wall of books on programming languages and paradigms,
becoming self-taught through reading these books, developing an
interest in AI and philosophy of mind which led to pursuing a
master's degree in parallel computer systems, creating a virtual
machine for a Lisp-based actor model, learning about the occam
programming language based on Communicating sequential processes
(CSP) for transputers, discovering Object-oriented programming and
being fascinated by modularity and encapsulation, encountering Java
in the mid-90s as a free downloadable language with platform
independence, appreciating Java's familiar C-like syntax while
offering object orientation without low-level concerns, using Java
primarily for training and consultancy work rather than application
development, discussing the evolution of Java features like inner
classes (Java 1.1) and interfaces, explaining his unique
perspective on interfaces coming from distributed systems
experience with IDLs, reflecting on his work with various
distributed Java technologies like RMI, Jini and JavaSpaces,
continuing his career as an independent consultant, trainer and
speaker with strong involvement in the patterns community

Kevlin Henney on twitter: @KevlinHenney