David Malan

So I felt like that was a sign that I'm supposed to study computer science.

It was something stupid and very easily redressable, but I did not start off computer science or CS50 on the best foot.

I got minus two out of probably two points on Hello World.

So I'm just three now, thanks.

30 years later.

Typically now, it has since been standardized in C99, which was, in my defense, a version of C that did not exist in 1996.

And nowadays we use C11 or newer in CS50.

So you probably had default compiler settings on that did not like that old fashioned main signature.

In my defense, that part was correct in 1996.

I had an opportunity my senior year of college to teach an introductory course in computer science at Harvard's Extension School, which is the continuing ed program largely for adults.

The course was literally called Introduction to Computers and the Internet, because in 1999, we were still in the habit of introducing people to computers and the internet, as opposed to taking it for granted more so nowadays.

And it was me in a room full of

hundred or so adults.

I was easily the youngest person in the room at like 21 years old.

The story I usually share is that that was the first and last time I wore suspenders because I was so determined to project being older, even though I was still just a senior.

But that really whet my appetite in turn, not only for more computer science, even though that was very introductory and more technology focused, for teaching.

Over the next few years, I realized that doors would be closed to me if I wanted to teach at a place like Harvard College.

And I eventually returned to Harvard to do my PhD for five years in computer science.

And then in 2007, when I was finishing up, the former professor, my own advisor, was moving on to be dean of the school.

And so there was this vacancy at the helm of CS50.