The Author of Ping is Reported Dead

Wedman writes: "This is in the Nanog Archive, dated 2000-11-21: 'Mike Muuss, the author of the PING program used on networks everywhere, died last night in a traffic accident on US route 95 in Maryland. He was an alumnus of Johns Hopkins." Seems appropriate on Thanksgiving to thank a man who created something that we all rely on every day.

Comments

My condolences

[rice_burners_suck]

This is sad news to read, regardless of whether or not its thanksgiving. May we all remember his name each time we use ping.

As for all of you who are cracking jokes about his death, I don't think they are funny at all.

Kindest regards,

Nathaniel G H

In his own words

[tagishsimon]

I don't feel like a Pioneer, I feel fine. :-)

BRL CAD

[Anonymous Coward]

Mike Muuss was also the author of BRL CAD, one of the most useful 3D modeling programs out there. It has one of the most intense CSG systems out there. I don't know what its licensing is, but I hope someone (with a strong graphics and geometry background) picks this up.

IIRC, he was working on real-time raytracing systems.

Although his body died

[isorox]

His spirit will live on in the form of ping. There can be no greater legacy then to leave behind a tool that is used by millions every day.

The best way to celebrate the deceased...

[Gendou]

Don't mourn the deceased. That only insults them. Instead, sit around, have a few laughs, talking about what they did or accomplished. Everyone here is making jokes about Muuss because, well, they feel connected to him in someway.

I'm sure that if Muuss was reading /. right now, he'd be laughing at these jokes as much as any of us.

Let me tell you why humor exists... we have humor so that we can cope with the tragic events that populate our lives. It's a way of coping with loss... and a pretty damn good one too. Besides, I can barely think of any better ways to respect the dead than by calling attention to their accomplishments through humor.

Although, I must apologize for contributing to the excessive "destination unreachable" jokes. *sob* I didn't read everyone's posts before I cracked that one.

It is sad

[jjr]

To see all the bad taste of some the post that are put up here. I wish his family well may he find peace.

100% Packet Loss

[SubtleNuance]

Like most people here I use Ping daily. Like most people here I had never heard of Mike Muuss.

But from what Ive read of his writing on his homepage (linked from above) and his letter to the InterNet Historical Society (linked from above) it seems Mike would have had a wry sense of humour.

Mike seems to have been a massive influence on great area's of computing (Internet, TCPIP, UNIX) and that should be celebrated and tech people should be Thankful for his efforts, and due honour paid now that he has passed.

But when a person dies, absolute reverence does not exclude comments of some brevity.

I am SURE, as I would have, foreseen the 100% Packet Loss jokes coming when I was dead - and I would have found the idea very amusing and quite complementary... Ill assume Mike Muss dosnt mind*...

*I know this sounds presumptuous but I think I you would see my point... Apologies to those who find it so nonetheless.

Re:Memorial

[ctj2]

His work site will remain up because it has so much information that is off interest to the world. There is no need for it to ever go off line.

His personal server is still up and will remain up for as long as I can keep it running.

Memorial

[GeZ117]

Please all have one minute of ping in his honor:
ping -c 60 ftp.arl.mil
That's so strange to look at http://ftp.arl.mil/~mike/ and thinks this guy talking to you, and giving you a mailto: link is dead. It's like if there was a ghost speaking to you.

What happens to dead's homepage ? Do someone close them ? Or do they stand, like a simulacrum of eternity ?

Internet is something too young to be accustomed to death

It's a sad news.