John Gruber
Early Life
John Gruber was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Drexel University, where he studied computer science. During his time at Drexel, Gruber developed a keen interest in programming and web design. He spent a significant amount of time honing his skills in these areas, which would later form the foundation of his career.
Career
After graduating from Drexel University, Gruber worked for several tech companies in the Philadelphia area. However, he soon realized that he wanted to create something of his own. This led him to start his own blog, Daring Fireball, in 2002. The blog primarily focused on Apple and web technologies, and quickly gained a significant following due to Gruber's insightful commentary and analysis.
In 2004, Gruber developed Markdown, a lightweight markup language that makes it easier to read and write formatted text on the web. Markdown has since been adopted by many websites and applications, including GitHub, Reddit, and Stack Overflow. Gruber's creation of Markdown has had a profound impact on the way content is written and displayed on the web.
In addition to Daring Fireball and Markdown, Gruber also co-hosts a podcast called The Talk Show. The podcast, which Gruber co-hosts with Dan Benjamin, covers a wide range of topics, including technology, movies, and culture.
Daring Fireball
Daring Fireball is a blog that Gruber started in 2002. The blog primarily focuses on Apple and web technologies. Gruber's insightful commentary and analysis have earned him a significant following in the tech community. Daring Fireball is known for its detailed and thoughtful articles, as well as its distinctive star logo.
Markdown
Markdown is a lightweight markup language that Gruber developed in 2004. It is designed to be easy to read and write, making it an ideal choice for formatting text on the web. Markdown uses simple punctuation and characters to denote headings, links, and other elements, allowing writers to focus on their content rather than complex HTML tags.
Markdown has been widely adopted by many websites and applications. It is used on sites like GitHub, Reddit, and Stack Overflow, and has become a standard for writing README files, documentation, and other content.
The Talk Show
The Talk Show is a podcast that Gruber co-hosts with Dan Benjamin. The podcast covers a wide range of topics, including technology, movies, and culture. Gruber and Benjamin's insightful and often humorous commentary has earned The Talk Show a dedicated following.
Personal Life
Gruber is a private individual and tends not to share much about his personal life. He is known to be a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles, and often tweets about these teams on his Twitter account. He is also a fan of James Bond movies, and has written several articles about the franchise on Daring Fireball.
Legacy
Gruber's work, particularly his creation of Markdown and his insightful commentary on Daring Fireball, has had a significant impact on the tech community. His contributions have shaped the way content is written and displayed on the web, and his analysis and commentary have influenced the way many people think about technology and culture.