Joe Barr
Technology journalist, Linux advocate, and amateur radio operator W5CT.
Joe Barr, born October 19, 1944, worked as a technology journalist and editor for SourceForge properties including Linux.com and IT Manager's Journal. Before turning to writing, he spent 13 years at Ross Perot's EDS as a programmer, where he coded in over a dozen languages and worked on microcomputers. He started covering personal computing in 1994, shifting his focus to Linux and open source in 1998 when he joined IDG's LinuxWorld.com. His article "MPlayer: The project from hell" led the MPlayer project to create a derogatory page about him in its documentation, boosting his notoriety. In 2001, the American Society of Business Publication Editors gave him a Silver Medal for Original Web Commentary, recognizing his LinuxWorld.com piece "Dumbing Down Linux." Later, at OSTG, he produced articles, columns, and commentary for NewsForge and Linux.com. His book *CLI for Noobies* came out in 2007 through the SourceForge Community Press. An avid amateur radio operator, he used the callsign W5CT. Barr died on July 11, 2008.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1944-10-19
- Death Date
- 2008-07-11
- Occupation
- Technology journalist
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Barr began writing about personal computing in 1994, focusing on Linux and open source from 1998, when he started writing for IDG's LinuxWorld.com. He gained wider recognition after writing a piece titled 'MPlayer: The project from hell', which led the MPlayer project to dedicate a derogatory page to him in their documentation. In 2001, he received a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors in the category of Original Web Commentary for his LinuxWorld.com article 'Dumbing Down Linux'. In his later years, he worked at OSTG, writing articles, columns, and commentary for NewsForge and Linux.com. His first book, 'CLI for Noobies', was published in 2007 by the SourceForge Community Press.
Reader's Guide
Joe Barr's significance lies in his role as a commentator and journalist during the early growth of Linux and open-source software. His work for LinuxWorld.com and later for SourceForge properties helped shape discussions around Linux adoption and community practices. The controversy with the MPlayer project highlighted tensions between journalists and open-source developers. His award for 'Dumbing Down Linux' reflected his influence in critiquing the direction of the Linux community. His book 'CLI for Noobies' aimed to introduce newcomers to the command line. As an amateur radio operator with callsign W5CT, he participated in that community alongside his technology journalism.
Did You Know?
- He wrote code in more than a dozen programming languages.
- The MPlayer project created a derogatory page about him in their documentation.
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