Lin C. Wu's Memoir "Destination Silicon Valley" Chronicles Immigrant Journey and Amdahl's Supercomputer Era

David Wu announced on social media the release of his father, Lin C. Wu's, memoir, "Destination Silicon Valley," which details his remarkable journey from postwar China to becoming a pivotal member of Amdahl Corporation's founding team. The memoir, available as a free eBook this weekend, offers an intimate look at the development of one of the world's fastest computers and the broader immigrant experience in early Silicon Valley.

"Launch day!! My dad, Lin C. Wu, just released his memoir Destination Silicon Valley — the story of his journey from postwar China to joining the founding team at Amdahl and helping build the world’s fastest computer. eBook is free this weekend," David Wu stated in his tweet.

The book, described as a story of "grit, reinvention, engineering, and the immigrant experience," traces Lin C. Wu's path from escaping Communist China at six and arriving in America at sixteen, to his significant contributions at Amdahl. Amdahl Corporation, founded in 1970 by former IBM engineer Gene Amdahl, quickly established itself as a formidable competitor to IBM by producing mainframe computers that offered superior price-performance ratios.

Lin C. Wu joined Amdahl at a critical juncture, contributing to the development of machines like the Amdahl 470 V/6, which was shipped in 1975. This computer was notable for being twice as fast as IBM's contemporary models, yet air-cooled, simplifying installation and maintenance. The 470 V/6's rapid deployment and performance at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center solidified Amdahl's reputation, challenging IBM's dominance in the mainframe market.

"Destination Silicon Valley" delves into the challenges and triumphs faced by immigrants who helped shape the technology landscape. It highlights the often-overlooked contributions of individuals like Lin C. Wu, whose determination and engineering prowess were instrumental in the early days of Silicon Valley's innovation boom. The memoir is available now, with the eBook offered free for a limited time.