Brian Jhan Fox | |
|---|---|
 Fox in 2008 | |
| Born | (1959-12-11)December 11, 1959 (age 66) Boston,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Employer | abk labs |
| Known for | GNU Bash |
| Relatives | Donal Fox (brother) |
Brian Jhan Fox (born 1959) is an Americancomputer programmer andfree software advocate. He is the original author of theGNUBashshell, which he announced as a beta in June 1989.[1] He continued as the primary maintainer of Bash until at least early 1993.[2][3] Fox also built the first interactiveonline banking software in the U.S. forWells Fargo in 1995,[4] and he created anopen source election system in 2008. Fox has co-founded several technology start-ups including Orchid Labs, a provider of anonymized internet marketplaces.[5]
In 1985, Fox worked withRichard Stallman at Stallman's newly createdFree Software Foundation (FSF).[6] At the FSF, Fox authoredGNU Bash,[7]GNU Makeinfo,GNU Info,GNU Finger,GNU Echo[8] and thereadline[9] and history libraries.
He was also the maintainer ofGNU Emacs for a time, making many contributions to the software which was created and maintained for theGNU Project between 1986 and 1994.[4]
In 2008, Fox collaborated with Alan Dechert and Brent Turner to create a completely open source election system. The system was coded together with Parker Abercrombie, and demonstrated at theLinuxWorld conference inMoscone Center inSan Francisco, August 5–7, 2008.[10]
Fox also is a founding member of both theCalifornia Association of Voting Officials (CAVO)[11] and the National Association of Voting Officials (NAVO).[12] These not-for-profit organizations promote open source voting systems for use in public elections. Fox co-wrote aNew York Times piece in 2015 with formerCIA headR. James Woolsey advocating open source election systems as a means of securing US elections against interference from foreign actors.[13]
Fox also wrote AMACS, a cut-down implementation ofEmacs for theApple II.[14]
He is the fourth born in a family of six siblings: composer and musicianDonal Fox, Thaddeus Fox, sister Ena Fox, Daniel Fox and sister Sara Fox-Ray. He is the son of physicist and educator Herbert Fox[15] and grandson of artist Daniel Fox, creator of theMonopoly Man.[16]
Bourne Shell Scripting at Wikibooks