Donald Knuth: Algorithms, Complexity, and The Art of Computer Programming | Lex Fridman Podcast #62
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited as an excellent look at Knuth's thinking and working style, and as a likely source for quotes about his habits.
What it is
Lex Fridman interviews Donald Knuth about algorithms, complexity, The Art of Computer Programming, and his work habits. The conversation covers his approach to verifying algorithms and how he organises his time.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2020 to 2023.
What Hacker News said
Recommends jhncls · 2020-08 · on “Knuth versus Email (1999)”
Lex Fridman had an interesting interview with Don Knuth close to his 82nd birthday[0]. It's fascinating to learn how much energy he still spends at verifying and investigating each aspect of newly published algorithms. E-mail would probably cut away too much time from what he considers more important. [0]: [this video]
Recommends lanstin · 2023-05 · on “Don Knuth Plays with ChatGPT”
IIRC he gets into his work arrangement to try to finish TAOCP: [this video] I don't really like Lex Fridman, but this interview is excellent.
Cites killjoywashere · 2020-01 · on “Donald Knuth: Algorithms, Complexity, Life, and the Art of Programming [video]”
He mentions (and shows) a favorite paper tablet he uses with very finely ruled lines. He found it in Canada about 40 years ago while visiting his sister. Anybody know who makes his tablets? discussion here: [this video]
Cites madisp · 2022-05 · on “Donald Knuth on work habits, problem solving, and happiness (2020)”
probably the Lex Fridman podcast interviews: [this video] [LINK] the second one is definitely where the last paragraph in the article is from. Weird that the interview is dated 2021-09-09 and the post is 2020-04-30?