Ask HN: Help me remember the creator of a key piece of Apple software

4 points by etewiah 3y ago ↗ HN

Really sorry about asking such a vague question here but I really can't think where else to begin. There is a story about an ex-NASA guy who spent months in a cabin somewhere creating a key piece of software that he later sold to Apple. He did very well from it and went on to sail across the world. It was a great story and I thought I'd never forget his name but I have :( Roy something maybe??

2 comments

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samwillis 3y ago ↗

I believe you are thinking of Paul Lutus the creator of Apple Writer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Writer

IAmA from Reddit: IAmA former NASA Space Shuttle engineer, created "Apple Writer", retired at 35, sailed solo around the world, became Oregon's "Scientist of the Year". AMAA.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/q9qzn/iama_former_nas...

etewiah 3y ago ↗

Brilliant!! Thank you @samwillis. This is exactly what HN is great at. Don't know how else I would have found him.

I love the fact that he had a vision and went off to develop it in isolation. I feel today's obsession with "talk to the customer first" is missing something....