06/15/2025
Long live HyperCard, my first foray into computer programming on the Mac
We are saddened by the passing of Bill Atkinson, a software developer whose pioneering work helped shape the personal computing revolution.
Atkinson joined Apple Computer in 1978 as the company’s 51st employee and played a pivotal role in defining the look and feel of modern computing. He was a key designer of QuickDraw, the graphics engine behind the original Macintosh, and the creator of MacPaint, one of the first programs to show what a graphical user interface could do. He also conceived and built HyperCard, an early hypermedia tool that inspired a generation of software creators.
His innovations include fundamental elements still used today, like the menu bar, double click, selection lasso, and the famous “marching ants” animation. He later cofounded General Magic and pursued his passion for nature photography.
Atkinson’s legacy will continue to live on in the tools, interfaces, and ideas that made computers more human-centered and creative.
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