Bill Atkinson was the programmer and designer I looked up to the most. Not just for programming craft, but for a consideration of how an entire thing works all at once, and how its design affects the user.

Earlier this year, I sent him a fan email thanking him for his code and designs from early Macintosh. He responded by shipping me a signed copy of one of his large, heavy, and very nice photography books. (The one with the beautiful stone patterns.)

What a legend.

Thanks, Bill.