Mark Spencer (computer engineer)
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2018) |
Mark Spencer | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mark Spencer at the 2006 O'Reilly Emerging Telephony Conference | |
| Born | April 8, 1977 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Auburn University |
| Occupation | Computer engineer |
Mark Spencer (born April 8, 1977) is an American computer engineer and is the original author of the GTK+-based instant messaging client Gaim (which has since been renamed to Pidgin), the L2TP daemon l2tpd and the Cheops Network User Interface.
Mark Spencer is also the creator of Asterisk, a Linux-based open-sourced PBX. He is the founder, chairman and CTO of Digium, an open-source telecommunications supplier most notable for its development and sponsorship of Asterisk. Spencer shifted from CEO to chairman and CTO in early 2007.
Early life
[edit]Spencer was born and raised in Auburn, Alabama.[1] He attended Auburn University where both his parents were professors.[2] In high school, he was mentored by another Auburn professor, Thaddeus Roppel,[2] and Mark Smith, co-founder of Adtran.[1]
Career
[edit]While attending Auburn University, Spencer co-oped at Adtran when he wrote l2tpd. He went on to start a Linux technical support business. Spencer did not have enough money to buy a PBX (private branch exchange) for his company so he decided to write Asterisk and later founded Digium.
As a pilot, Mark founded Avilution, LLC. to create Android apps including QuickWeather and AviationMaps. AviationMaps was later spun out to FlightPro, then DroidEFB. Adapting a similar strategy as Asterisk, he developed the eXtensible Flight System, XFS, a cross-platform avionics architecture. XFS has already been integrated in the Zenith CH750 STOL aircraft in the form of both a three-screen panel and the "Unpanel," a portrait-orientation (also landscape) screen to replace the entire traditional glass cockpit.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Marshall, Mike (November 17, 2011). "Mark Spencer of Digium: 'You have to have internal inspiration to do exceptional work'". The Huntsville Times. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
- ^ a b Hardy, Quentin (March 24, 2006). "Dial D for Disruption". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
- ^ "'Unpanel' replaces traditional instruments on new Zenith model". www.aopa.org. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
External links
[edit]- Mark Spencer's previous homepage (copies at the Internet Archive)
- Interview with Mark Spencer at OSDir.com
- Interview with Mark Spencer at archive.today (archived 2013-01-19) at CNet
- Linux Link Tech Show interview (audio), 2005
- Global open source enthusiasts interview Mark Spencer December 2009
- News story regarding changing roles at Digium