Karel Vik

Karel Vik was a Czech-American computer scientist, best known for his work in the field of computer science education, specifically with the introduction of the programming language Karel.

Vik earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of California, San Diego in 1970. He then became a professor at the University of California, San Diego. While teaching introductory computer science, he developed Karel as a simplified programming environment to teach fundamental programming concepts.

Karel, named after Czech playwright Karel Čapek (who coined the term "robot"), allows students to control a simple robot in a grid-based world using a limited set of commands. This approach allows beginners to focus on logic and problem-solving without being overwhelmed by complex syntax.

While Vik's work may not be as widely cited as some other figures in computer science, his contribution to introductory computer science education through Karel has been significant, influencing the design of many subsequent educational programming tools. He is considered a pioneer in making computer programming more accessible to beginners.