Here's my conversation with Dave Plummer (Dave W Plummer), programmer, former Microsoft engineer (Windows 95, NT, XP), creator of Task Manager, author of two books on autism, and host of the much-loved Dave's Garage YouTube channel. It's here on X in full and is up everywhere else (see comment).... Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 1:22 - First computer 7:00 - Dropping out of high-school 14:41 - Joining Microsoft 16:53 - MS-DOS 20:05 - Windows 95 26:52 - The man behind Windows 31:48 - Debugging 37:05 - Task Manager 42:14 - 3D Pinball: Space Cadet 47:13 - Start menu and taskbar 58:12 - Blue Screen of Death 1:00:21 - Best programmers 1:08:22 - Scariest time of Dave's life 1:15:50 - Best Windows version 1:17:40 - Slot machines 1:21:23 - Autism and ADHD 1:40:43 - Fastest programming language 1:44:48 - Future of programmingshow more

Here's the links for my conversation with Dave Plummer (@davepl1968): YouTube: Spotify: Podcast:

@davepl1968 Finally lex fridman back to podcasting with engineers.

@davepl1968 “Secrets of the Autistic Millionaire” (summary in 4k)

@davepl1968 What strikes me about these early Microsoft engineers is how they solved problems with severe constraints. Windows 95 on 4MB RAM forced a kind of creativity we rarely see today. The real lesson is that limitation breeds innovation when you have no choice.

@davepl1968 There is no meaning to life, but there is a purpose to life. The purpose to see what we can become...what potential we can reach...as individuals and as humankind.

@davepl1968 Did you ask him about his time scamming people with his scareware? If not, you failed your audience.

@davepl1968 I am not done with the 10 hour podcast. Slow down sir!

@davepl1968 Well I know what I’ll be listening to when I hit the trails tomorrow morning! This looks like another great episode. Thank you both.

@davepl1968 This will surely be one of your best interviews. Thank you, Lex, and thank you, Dave.

@davepl1968 Ask him why MS trouble shooter has never fixed a single problem.

@davepl1968 Thanks Lex 🙏

@davepl1968 This should be a good interview!

@davepl1968 Oh cool. I like this guy's channel. Will definitely be checking this one out. Nice pull.

@davepl1968 Yk most of the time I don't understand but I listen anyways cause I'm a fan :)

@davepl1968 Great to see programmers back on the podcast.

@davepl1968 Dad. 60 lbs gone. Burning urological pain. 4 yrs unexplained. $9k/month+ bills. $10 from 50k people. Or one big donor. Any chain works.

@davepl1968 Nice

@davepl1968 The pregnant woman eats food grown sprayed with glysophate damaging the fetus delicate brain causing autism.

@davepl1968 1:15 Best windows version - it’s called macOS

@davepl1968 🙂

@davepl1968 Your point about the taskbar is correct! Those who customize its location and other features are the power users. The current taskbar is also garbage! Being unable to move it off the main screen makes no sense!

@davepl1968 Task Manager's elegant resource monitoring mirrors how the brain's executive function manages cognitive load. Plummer's work bridged computer and neural architecture decades before we understood the parallels in network theory.

@davepl1968 As a junior developer, these interviews are golden. Thank you

@davepl1968 So this is the man responsible for ending 90% of my childhood games.

@davepl1968 Thanks for still podcasting Lex, I've pretty well been keeping up with releases these days. You're covering some pretty fascinating topics :)

@davepl1968 The talk on benefits of Autism is quite interesting …

@davepl1968 Hell yeah!

@davepl1968 Task Manager - OLD SCHOOL! Looking forward to this. 🍻

@davepl1968 This was awesome

@davepl1968 More programmers and computer scientists please. These are the best podcasts in the world right now.

@davepl1968 You are a very good interviewer.

@davepl1968 Very impressive 💯👏🎉👏👏

@davepl1968 Wish I was as smart as Dave Plummer! He’s a genius.

@davepl1968 Perfect follow-up to Scott Horton. Though it'll take me generations to finish listening to that talk, I'll be sure to do this one next.

@davepl1968 Keep backing with Engineering.