James Gosling: Java, JVM, Emacs, and the Early Days of Computing | Lex Fridman Podcast #126

James Gosling, the founder of Java, discusses the genesis of the programming language, emphasizing the need to address issues like memory leaks, security vulnerabilities, and the lack of platform independence prevalent in C and C++. Gosling recounts road trips to consumer electronics companies, which highlighted the importance of safety and reliability. The creation of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) stemmed from the desire to create a CPU-agnostic platform, liberating developers and purchasers from being tied to specific hardware vendors. Gosling also reflects on the open-source movement, his disagreements with Richard Stallman, and ethical considerations in technology, advocating for a "Star Trek" future over a "Blade Runner" one. He advises young developers to embrace risk and not fear failure.