John Paul Morrison
Encyclopedia
John Paul Morrison is a British-born Canadian computer programmer
, and the inventor of flow-based programming
(FBP). He is the author of the books Flow-Based Programming: A New Approach to Application Development and Flow-Based Programming, 2nd Edition: A New Approach to Application Development. Ed Yourdon has included the former in his list of "Cool Books".
Morrison is the son of the writer, translator and editor, John Rodker
and Barbara McKenzie-Smith, an artist. Born John Paul Rodker, his name was changed by deed poll
when his mother remarried. He was educated at The Dragon School, Eton College
(he was a King's Scholar
, specializing in Classics
), and King's College, Cambridge - M.A.
in Anthropology and Archaeology, specializing in social anthropology
.
He joined IBM
UK in January 1959, as an EDPM (Electronic Data Processing
Machines) Representative, and retired (from IBM Canada) in 1992. The first computer he programmed was the IBM 650
. He also wired plug-boards. During his career with IBM, he worked on compilers, data bases, text processing, and applications in a number of different areas, especially in the field of banking. He has now (as of 2010) been programming computers for over 50 years.
In 1978, IBM published an article describing many of the concepts of what is now called flow-based programming
, under the name Data Stream Linkage Mechanism. A few years later, he started working with the distinguished IBM architect, Wayne Stevens
, to refine and promote these concepts, up until Stevens' death in 1993. IBM Canada developed a related product, called Data Flow Development Manager, which Stevens described in his book Software Design - Concepts and Methods. DFDM was marketed in Japan under the name Data Flow Programming Manager.
Paul Morrison now works as a contractor and consultant, and currently lives in historic Unionville, Ontario
.
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
, and the inventor of flow-based programming
Flow-based programming
In computer science, flow-based programming is a programming paradigm that defines applications as networks of "black box" processes, which exchange data across predefined connections by message passing, where the connections are specified externally to the processes...
(FBP). He is the author of the books Flow-Based Programming: A New Approach to Application Development and Flow-Based Programming, 2nd Edition: A New Approach to Application Development. Ed Yourdon has included the former in his list of "Cool Books".
Morrison is the son of the writer, translator and editor, John Rodker
John Rodker
John Rodker was a British writer, modernist poet, and publisher of some of the major modernist figures. He was born in Manchester into a Jewish immigrant family, who moved to London while he was still young.-Career:...
and Barbara McKenzie-Smith, an artist. Born John Paul Rodker, his name was changed by deed poll
Deed poll
A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several persons acting jointly to express an active intention...
when his mother remarried. He was educated at The Dragon School, Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
(he was a King's Scholar
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
, specializing in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
), and King's College, Cambridge - M.A.
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in Anthropology and Archaeology, specializing in social anthropology
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
.
He joined IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
UK in January 1959, as an EDPM (Electronic Data Processing
Electronic data processing
Electronic Data Processing can refer to the use of automated methods to process commercial data. Typically, this uses relatively simple, repetitive activities to process large volumes of similar information...
Machines) Representative, and retired (from IBM Canada) in 1992. The first computer he programmed was the IBM 650
IBM 650
The IBM 650 was one of IBM’s early computers, and the world’s first mass-produced computer. It was announced in 1953, and over 2000 systems were produced between the first shipment in 1954 and its final manufacture in 1962...
. He also wired plug-boards. During his career with IBM, he worked on compilers, data bases, text processing, and applications in a number of different areas, especially in the field of banking. He has now (as of 2010) been programming computers for over 50 years.
In 1978, IBM published an article describing many of the concepts of what is now called flow-based programming
Flow-based programming
In computer science, flow-based programming is a programming paradigm that defines applications as networks of "black box" processes, which exchange data across predefined connections by message passing, where the connections are specified externally to the processes...
, under the name Data Stream Linkage Mechanism. A few years later, he started working with the distinguished IBM architect, Wayne Stevens
Wayne Stevens
Wayne P. Stevens was an American software engineer, consultant, author, pioneer, and advocate of the practical application of software methods and tools.- Life & Work :...
, to refine and promote these concepts, up until Stevens' death in 1993. IBM Canada developed a related product, called Data Flow Development Manager, which Stevens described in his book Software Design - Concepts and Methods. DFDM was marketed in Japan under the name Data Flow Programming Manager.
Paul Morrison now works as a contractor and consultant, and currently lives in historic Unionville, Ontario
Unionville, Ontario
Unionville is a suburban village in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is located 33 km northeast of downtown Toronto and 4 km east of southern Richmond Hill. Unionville is located between Woodbine Avenue as the western limit, alongside the Rouge River leading to McCowan Road as the eastern...
.