Morpheus

From Lex Fridman Podcast

#479 – Dave Plummer: Programming, Autism, and Old-School Microsoft Stories

Published
August 29, 2025
Starts at
15:54

Audio is streamed from the publisher.

Chapters

Read from the show notes

  1. 0:00 Introduction
  2. 1:14 Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
  3. 10:16 First computer
  4. 15:54 Dropping out of high-school
  5. 23:35 Joining Microsoft
  6. 25:47 MS-DOS
  7. 28:59 Windows 95
  8. 35:46 The man behind Windows
  9. 40:42 Debugging
  10. 45:59 Task Manager
  11. 51:08 3D Pinball: Space Cadet
  12. 56:07 Start menu and taskbar
  13. 1:07:06 Blue Screen of Death
  14. 1:09:15 Best programmers
  15. 1:17:16 Scariest time of Dave’s life
  16. 1:24:44 Best Windows version
  17. 1:26:34 Slot machines
  18. 1:30:17 Autism and ADHD
  19. 1:49:37 Fastest programming language
  20. 1:53:42 Future of programming

Not from the publisher — times may be approximate.

Dave Plummer is a programmer, former Microsoft software engineer (Windows 95, NT, XP), creator of Task Manager, author of two books on autism, and host of the Dave’s Garage YouTube channel, where he shares stories from his career, insights on software development, and deep dives into technology. Thank you for listening ❤ Check out our sponsors: [https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep479-sc]( https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep479-sc">https://lexfridman.com/sponsors/ep479-sc See below for timestamps, and to give feedback, submit questions, contact Lex, etc. **CONTACT LEX:** **Feedback** – give feedback to Lex: [https://lexfridman.com/survey]( https://lexfridman.com/survey">https://lexfridman.com/survey **AMA** – submit questions, videos or call-in: [https://lexfridman.com/ama]( https://lexfridman.com/ama">https://lexfridman.com/ama **Hiring** – join our team: [https://lexfridman.com/hiring]( https://lexfridman.com/hiring">https://lexfridman.com/hiring **Other** – other ways to get in touch: [https://lexfridman.com/contact]( https://lexfridman.com/contact">https://lexfridman.com/contact **EPISODE LINKS:** Dave’s X: [https://x.com/davepl1968]( https://x.com/davepl1968">https://x.com/davepl1968 Dave’s YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage]( https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage">https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage Dave’s Secondary YouTube Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@davepl]( https://www.youtube.com/@davepl">https://www.youtube.com/@davepl Dave’s GitHub: [https://github.com/PlummersSoftwareLLC]( https://github.com/PlummersSoftwareLLC">https://github.com/PlummersSoftwareLLC Dave’s Books: [https://amzn.to/41qd5IB]( https://amzn.to/41qd5IB">https://amzn.to/41qd5IB **SPONSORS:** To support this podcast, check out our sponsors & get discounts: **UPLIFT Desk:** Standing desks and office ergonomics. Go to [https://upliftdesk.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/uplift\_desk-ep479-sc">https://upliftdesk.com/lex **ZocDoc:** App that helps patients find healthcare providers. Go to [https://zocdoc.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/zocdoc-ep479-sc">https://zocdoc.com/lex **Fin:** AI agent for customer service. Go to [https://fin.ai/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/fin-ep479-sc">https://fin.ai/lex **Allio Capital:** AI-powered investment app that uses global macroeconomic trends. Go to [https://alliocapital.com/]( https://lexfridman.com/s/allio\_capital-ep479-sc">https://alliocapital.com/ **Shopify:** Sell stuff online. Go to [https://shopify.com/lex]( https://lexfridman.com/s/shopify-ep479-sc">https://shopify.com/lex **OUTLINE:** (00:00) – Introduction (01:14) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections (10:16) – First computer (15:54) – Dropping out of high-school (23:35) – Joining Microsoft (25:47) – MS-DOS (28:59) – Windows 95 (35:46) – The man behind Windows (40:42) – Debugging (45:59) – Task Manager (51:08) – 3D Pinball: Space Cadet (56:07) – Start menu and taskbar (1:07:06) – Blue Screen of Death (1:09:15) – Best programmers (1:17:16) – Scariest time of Dave’s life (1:24:44) – Best Windows version (1:26:34) – Slot machines (1:30:17) – Autism and ADHD (1:49:37) – Fastest programming language (1:53:42) – Future of programming **PODCAST LINKS:** – Podcast Website: [https://lexfridman.com/podcast]( https://lexfridman.com/podcast">https://lexfridman.com/podcast – Apple Podcasts: [https://apple.co/2lwqZIr]( https://apple.co/2lwqZIr">https://apple.co/2lwqZIr – Spotify: [https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8]( https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8">https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8 – RSS: [https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/]( https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/">https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/ – Podcast Playlist: [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4]( https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrAXtmErZgOdP\_8GztsuKi9nrraNbKKp4 – Clips Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/lexclips]( https://www.youtube.com/lexclips">https://www.youtube.com/lexclips