Editing Dave Cutler

{{short description|American software engineer}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Dave Cutler
| image = DavidCutler WindowsAzure.JPG
| caption = Cutler in 2008
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|3|13}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zachary |first1=G. Pascal |title=Showstopper!: The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft |date=2014 |publisher=Open Road Media |isbn=978-1-4804-9484-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o2IkAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Dave+Cutler%22+march+13&pg=PT9 |access-date=12 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Lansing, Michigan]], United States
| nationality = American
| fields = [[Computer science]]<br/>[[Operating system]] design
| workplaces = [[DuPont]]<br/>[[Digital Equipment Corporation]]<br/>[[Microsoft]] (Senior Technical Fellow)<br/>[[University of Washington]]
| alma_mater = [[Olivet College]] 
| known_for = Developing several widely-used commercial [[operating system]]s:<br/>[[Microsoft]]: [[Windows NT]]<br/>[[Digital Equipment Corporation]]: [[RSX-11M]], [[OpenVMS|VMS]], [[VAXELN]], [[DEC MICA|MICA]]
| awards = 
| spouse = 
| website = 
}}

'''David Neil Cutler Sr.''' (born March 13, 1942) is an American [[software engineer]]. He developed several computer [[operating system]]s, namely [[Windows NT|Microsoft Windows NT]], and [[Digital Equipment Corporation]]'s [[RSX-11M]], [[VAXELN]], and [[OpenVMS|VMS]].<ref name=techrecog>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/about/technicalrecognition/David-Cutler.aspx |title=2007 Microsoft Technical Recognition Award: Senior Technical Fellow David Cutler |publisher=Microsoft, USA |access-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222162501/http://www.microsoft.com/about/technicalrecognition/david-cutler.aspx |archive-date=2017-02-22}}</ref>

== Personal history ==
Cutler was born in [[Lansing, Michigan]] and grew up in [[DeWitt, Michigan]]. After graduating from [[Olivet College]], Michigan, in 1965, he went to work for [[DuPont]].

Cutler holds at least 20 patents, and is affiliate faculty in the Computer Science Department at the [[University of Washington]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.washington.edu/people/faculty/affiliate |title=Affiliate Faculty |website=The University of Washington |access-date=August 24, 2019}}</ref>

Cutler is an avid [[auto racing]] driver. He competed in the [[Atlantic Championship]] from 1996 to 2002, scoring a career best of 8th on the [[Milwaukee Mile]] in 2000.<ref name=techrecog/>

Cutler was elected a member of the [[National Academy of Engineering]] in 1994 for the design and engineering of commercially successful operating systems.

Cutler is a member of Adelphic Alpha Pi Fraternity at [[Olivet College]], Michigan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uolivet.edu/greek-life/adelphic-alpha-pi/ |title=About Adelphic Alpha Pi |access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>

==DuPont (1965 to 1971)==
Cutler's first exposure to computers came when he was tasked to perform a [[computer simulation]]s model for one of DuPont's customers using IBM's [[GPSS]]-3 language on an [[IBM 7040|IBM model 7044]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/#sm.000heedesz03cnd100y1kk4ylyo04|title=David Cutler: The Engineer's Engineer at Microsoft |publisher=Microsoft, USA |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> This work led to an interest in how computers and their operating systems worked.

==Digital Equipment Corporation (1971 to 1988)==
Cutler left DuPont to pursue his interest in computer systems, beginning with [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] in 1971. He worked at [[Assabet Woolen Mill|Digital's headquarters]] in [[Maynard, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://windowsitpro.com/windows-client/windows-nt-and-vms-rest-story |title=Windows NT and VMS: The Rest of the Story |date=30 November 1998 |last=Russinovich |first=Mark |publisher=Penton, USA |access-date=27 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529061737/http://windowsitpro.com/windows-client/windows-nt-and-vms-rest-story |archive-date=29 May 2017}}</ref>

=== RSX-11M ===

{{Main|RSX-11}}

{{Expand section|date=June 2017}}

=== VMS ===

{{Main|OpenVMS}}

In April 1975, DEC began a hardware project, code-named '''Star''', to design a 32-bit virtual address extension to its [[PDP-11]]. In June 1975, Cutler, together with [[Dick Hustvedt]] and Peter Lipman, were appointed the technical project leaders for the software project, code-named '''Starlet''', to develop a totally new operating system for the Star family of processors. These two projects were tightly integrated from the beginning.

The three technical leaders of the Starlet project together with three technical leaders of the Star project formed the "Blue Ribbon Committee" at DEC that produced the fifth design evolution for the programs. The design featured simplifications to the memory management and process scheduling schemes of the earlier proposals and the architecture was accepted. The Star and Starlet projects culminated in the development of the [[VAX-11/780]] superminicomputer and the VAX/VMS operating system, respectively.

=== PRISM and MICA projects ===

{{Main|DEC PRISM|DEC MICA}}

DEC began working on a new CPU using [[reduced instruction set computer]] (RISC) design principles in 1986. Cutler, who was working in DEC's DECwest facility in Bellevue, Washington, was selected to head [[DEC PRISM|PRISM]], a project to develop the company's RISC machine. Its operating system, code named [[DEC MICA|MICA]], was to embody the next generation of design principles and have a compatibility layer for Unix and VMS. The RISC machine was to be based on [[emitter-coupled logic]] (ECL) technology, and was one of three ECL projects DEC was undertaking at the time.

Funding the research and development of multiple ECL projects yielding products that would ultimately compete against each other was a strain. Of the three ECL projects, the VAX 9000 was the only one that was directly commercialized. Primarily because of the early successes of the [[DECstation|PMAX]] advanced development project and the need for differing business models, PRISM was canceled in 1988 in favor of PMAX.

PRISM later surfaced as the basis of DEC's [[DEC Alpha|Alpha]] family of computer systems.<ref name="supnik-alpha">{{cite web |url=http://simh.trailing-edge.com/semi/ev4.html|title=EV-4 (1992)|date=2008-02-24}}</ref>

=== Attitude towards Unix ===
Cutler is known for his disdain for [[Unix]]. Said one team member who worked with Cutler:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zachary |first1=G. Pascal |title=Show-stopper! : the breakneck race to create Windows NT and the next generation at Microsoft |date=1994 |publisher=Free Press |location=New York |isbn=0029356717 |page=94 |url=https://archive.org/details/showstopperbreak00zach/page/94/mode/2up|url-access=registration}}</ref>
{{blockquote|
Unix is like Cutler's lifelong foe. It's like his [[Professor Moriarty|Moriarty]]. He thinks Unix is a junk operating program designed by a committee of PhDs. There's never been one mind behind the whole thing, and it shows. So he's always been out to get Unix. 
}}

==Microsoft (1988 – present)==

=== Microsoft Windows NT ===
Cutler left DEC for Microsoft in October 1988 and led the development of Windows NT. Later, he worked on targeting Windows NT to DEC's 64-bit [[DEC Alpha|Alpha]] architecture then on [[Windows 2000]]. After the demise of Windows on Alpha (and the demise of DEC), he was instrumental in porting Windows to AMD's new 64-bit [[AMD64]] architecture. He was involved with the [[Windows XP]] Pro x64 and [[Windows Server]] 2003 SP1 x64 releases. He moved to working on Microsoft's Live Platform in August 2006. Cutler was awarded the prestigious status of Senior Technical Fellow at Microsoft.

=== Microsoft Windows Azure ===
At the 2008 [[Professional Developers Conference]], Microsoft announced [[Azure Services Platform]], a [[cloud computing|cloud-based]] [[operating system]] which Microsoft is developing. During the conference keynote, Cutler was mentioned as a lead developer on the project, along with Amitabh Srivastava.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/ozzie/10-27PDC08dayone.mspx |title=Professional Developers Conference 2008 Day 1 Keynote: Ray Ozzie, Amitabh Srivastava, Bob Muglia, Dave Thompson |date=27 October 2008 |publisher=Microsoft, USA |access-date=29 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101225550/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/ozzie/10-27PDC08dayone.mspx |archive-date=2008-11-01}}</ref>

=== Microsoft Xbox ===
In January 2012, a spokesperson for Microsoft confirmed that Cutler was no longer working on Windows Azure, and had joined the [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] team.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-confirms-dave-cutler-father-of-windows-nt-now-working-on-xbox/11684 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120164744/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-confirms-dave-cutler-father-of-windows-nt-now-working-on-xbox/11684 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |title=Microsoft Confirms Dave Cutler, Father of Windows NT, Now Working on Xbox |work=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=CBS Interactive, USA}}</ref> In May 2013, Microsoft announced the Xbox One console, and Cutler was mentioned as having worked in developing the host OS of the new gaming device. Apparently his work was focused on creating an optimized version of Microsoft's [[Hyper-V]] Host OS specifically designed for Xbox One.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/ |title=The Engineer's Engineer: Dave Cutler at Microsoft |access-date=4 August 2016}}</ref>

== Awards ==
[[File:George W. Bush presents the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to Dave Cutler.jpg|thumb|Cutler receiving the [[National Medal of Technology and Innovation]] in September 2008 from [[George W. Bush]]]]
* Recognized as a 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation Laureate, awarded on 29 September 2008 at a White House ceremony in Washington, DC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/08-19-2008ir.htm |title=U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez Announces Technology Council |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |date=19 August 2008 |access-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007145349/http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/speeches/08-19-2008ir.htm |archive-date=7 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080929-4.html |title=President Bush Presents 2007 National Medals of Science and Technology and Innovation |publisher=United States Government |date=29 September 2008 |access-date=3 May 2012}}</ref>
* Honored as a Computer History Museum Fellow on 16 April 2016 at the [[Computer History Museum]] in Mountain View, California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.computerhistory.org/fellowawards/current|title=Computer History Museum Fellow Awards |publisher=Computer History Museum, USA |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
*{{cite book |last=Zachary |first=G. Pascal |year=1994 |title=Showstopper! The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft |publisher=Warner Books |isbn=0-02-935671-7 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/showstopperbreak00zach}}

== External links ==
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi1Lq79mLeE Interview between Dave's Garage and David Cutler, Cutler discusses his career throughout his life
* [https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2018/10/102717163-05-01-acc.pdf Transcript or oral history interview with Dave Cutler by the Computer History Museum]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2GV_bCfnCw Dave Cutler video on his career as part of his Computer History Museum Fellow award] on [[YouTube]]
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060223063420/http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/DownloadableAssets/Microsoft_Video_Statement.wmv |date=February 23, 2006 |title=Dave Cutler video on 64 bit computing at AMD Site}}
*{{DriverDB driver|<!-- 1957 -->david-cutler|David Cutler}}
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007112104/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/techfellow/Cutler/default.mspx |date=October 7, 2010 |title=David Cutler, Microsoft Technical Fellow}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi1Lq79mLeE Dave Cutler: The Secret History of Microsoft Windows] on [[YouTube]]

{{Real-time operating systems}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutler, Dave}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American computer programmers]]
[[Category:American computer scientists]]
[[Category:Microsoft technical fellows]]
[[Category:Microsoft Windows people]]
[[Category:Digital Equipment Corporation people]]
[[Category:Kernel programmers]]
[[Category:Atlantic Championship drivers]]
[[Category:People from Lansing, Michigan]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Michigan]]
[[Category:Operating system people]]
[[Category:Olivet Comets football players]]