The rsync algorithm, which serves as a foundation for efficient file transfer and synchronization, was developed by Andrew Tridgell as part of his PhD dissertation at the Australian National University. This Australian computer scientist and engineer is known for his role in analyzing proprietary protocols to create compatible free and open source software implementations.
Early Development and Academic Work
Born in Sydney in 1967, Tridgell pursued his education at the University of Sydney and the Australian National University. He initially focused his doctoral studies on speech recognition before shifting his research. His final dissertation, titled Efficient Algorithms for Sorting and Synchronization, focused on the mechanics of the rsync tool. Throughout his career, he has served as an engineer, computer scientist, and programmer, including a tenure at IBM.
Samba and Proprietary Protocol Analysis
Tridgell gained recognition for his development of the Samba file server. He analyzed the Server Message Block protocol, which is utilized by Microsoft Windows for network file sharing, to enable interoperability. His contributions also include the creation of talloc, a hierarchical memory allocator originally built for Samba, as well as rzip and spamsum, the latter of which utilizes locality-sensitive hashing.
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In 2005, Tridgell attempted to develop SourcePuller, software designed to interoperate with the BitKeeper source code repository. BitMover subsequently revoked the license allowing Linux developers access to BitKeeper. This sparked a public disagreement with Linux creator Linus Torvalds, who accused Tridgell of unethical tactics. Tridgell maintained that his analysis involved basic network communication with the server. The event is historically linked to the creation of Git by Torvalds.
Robotics and Later Projects
Beyond traditional software, Tridgell has engaged in hardware-related development. He participated in hacking the TiVo for compatibility with Australian PAL video standards. In 2011, he shifted focus to the development of ArduPilot Mega, an Arduino-based UAV controller board, and collaborated with CanberraUAV for the UAV Challenge Outback Rescue. He has also authored KnightCap, a reinforcement-learning based chess engine.
Professional Recognition
Tridgell has received numerous honors for his contributions to the technology sector. He was awarded the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software in 2006 and the O'Reilly Open Source Award in 2008. In 2020, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to information technology, which specifically recognized his work on Samba, rsync, ArduPilot, and MAVProxy.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967, Sydney
- Citizenship: Australia
- Education: University of Sydney, Australian National University
- Key works: rsync, Samba, ArduPilot
- Notable Employer: IBM
- 2020 Honor: Medal of the Order of Australia
- 2006 Award: FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software
- 2008 Award: O'Reilly Open Source Award
Questions readers ask
What is the significance of the rsync algorithm?
It provides a method for highly efficient file transfer and synchronization, forming the basis for the rsync utility and the rzip compression tool.
What triggered the conflict between Tridgell and Linus Torvalds?
The conflict arose from Tridgell's development of SourcePuller to interoperate with the BitKeeper repository, which led BitMover to revoke access for Linux developers.
Achievements
- Notable work: Samba
- Notable work: rsync
- Affiliated with IBM
- Educated at University of Sydney and Australian National University
- Worked as engineer, programmer and computer scientist
