Paul Davis (programmer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Davis is a British software developer best known for his work on audio software for the Linux
operating system, and for his role as one of the first two programmers at Amazon.com
.
Davis grew up in the English Midlands
and in London
. After studying molecular biology
and biophysics
, he emigrated to the U.S.
in 1989. He lived in Seattle for seven years, before moving to Philadelphia in 1996.
In Seattle, he became one of the two programmers who helped start Amazon.com, but left soon after the company began. He went on to fund the development of various audio software for GNU
/Linux
, including Ardour
and the JACK Audio Connection Kit
. He became one of the few people to work full-time on free software
, and one of the few to do so without being an employee of a commercial entity. In previous jobs, Paul worked at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
, Schlumberger Cambridge Research, ScenicSoft, and the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Washington
.
He is also an ultra-marathon and touring cyclist. High points have included the 298 mile Cannonball in 14:01, and a five week tandem camping tour from Amsterdam
to Athens
.
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
operating system, and for his role as one of the first two programmers at Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
.
Davis grew up in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
and in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After studying molecular biology
Molecular biology
Molecular biology is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and biochemistry...
and biophysics
Biophysics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physical science to study biological systems. Studies included under the branches of biophysics span all levels of biological organization, from the molecular scale to whole organisms and ecosystems...
, he emigrated to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1989. He lived in Seattle for seven years, before moving to Philadelphia in 1996.
In Seattle, he became one of the two programmers who helped start Amazon.com, but left soon after the company began. He went on to fund the development of various audio software for GNU
GNU
GNU is a Unix-like computer operating system developed by the GNU project, ultimately aiming to be a "complete Unix-compatible software system"...
/Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, including Ardour
Ardour (audio processor)
Ardour is a hard disk recorder and digital audio workstation application. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X and FreeBSD. Its primary author is Paul Davis, who is also responsible for the JACK Audio Connection Kit...
and the JACK Audio Connection Kit
JACK Audio Connection Kit
JACK is a professional sound server daemon that provides real-time, low latency connections for both audio and MIDI data between applications that implement its API...
. He became one of the few people to work full-time on free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
, and one of the few to do so without being an employee of a commercial entity. In previous jobs, Paul worked at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory
European Molecular Biology Laboratory
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is a molecular biology research institution supported by 20 European countries and Australia as associate member state. EMBL was created in 1974 and is an intergovernmental organisation funded by public research money from its member states...
, Schlumberger Cambridge Research, ScenicSoft, and the Computer Science and Engineering Department at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
He is also an ultra-marathon and touring cyclist. High points have included the 298 mile Cannonball in 14:01, and a five week tandem camping tour from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.