How WATCOM transformed computing

At the October 2024 groundbreaking for Waterloo’s Mathematics 4 (M4) building, Dean Mark Giesbrecht emphasized the Faculty of Mathematics’ legacy in shaping technology. That legacy includes pioneers like Dr. Don Cowan and Ian McPhee, who revolutionized computing through innovations like WATFOR, a compiler that transformed student access to computer programming in the 1960s. Their work laid the foundation for WATCOM, Waterloo’s first software spinoff, which produced advanced compilers and database tools during the rise of personal computing. WATCOM’s C/C++ compiler enabled major technological leaps, including support for 32-bit Windows gaming and efficient portable database software. This success led to its acquisition and integration into SAP. Cowan and McPhee’s impact endures today, inspiring a new generation of students and reinforcing Waterloo’s reputation as a global leader in computing and software innovation.