Louis Pouzin

Updated: 12/01/2019 by Computer Hope
Louis Pouzin

Name: Louis Pouzin

Born: 1931 Chantenay-Saint-Imbert, Nièvre, France

Computer-related contributions

  • Invented the datagram and designed an early packet communications network. His work influenced others in developing TCP/IP protocols used by the Internet.
  • Having participated in the design of the CTSS (Compatible Time Sharing System), Pouzin wrote a program called RUNCOM in 1963 or 1964. RUNCOM permitted the execution of contained commands within a folder, and can be considered the ancestor of the command-line interface and shell scripts. Pouzin was, in fact, the one who coined the term shell for a command language in 1964 or 1965.

Honors and awards

  • Inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame (2012).
  • Named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor (2003).