Jim Butterfield
Frank James Butterfield | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Ponoka, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | June 29, 2007 (aged 71) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Computer programmer, writer, television figure |
| Known for | Early microcomputer technology, Commodore Business Machines, Toronto PET Users Group |
Frank James Butterfield (14 February 1936 – 29 June 2007) was a prominent Canadian computer programmer, writer, and television figure recognized for his pioneering contributions to early microcomputer technology. He is especially remembered for his association with Commodore Business Machines and the Toronto PET Users Group, authoring a variety of books and articles focused on machine language programming, as well as producing instructional videos and television content.
Early life and career
Hailing from Ponoka, Alberta, Butterfield was the third child in a family of four, born to English immigrant farmers. In 1953, he earned a scholarship to study French at the Banff School of Fine Arts. His higher education included time at both the University of Alberta and University of British Columbia, though he left without completing his degrees due to waning interest. His initial professional experience involved writing radio continuity scripts in Alberta.
Butterfield began working in 1957 with Canadian National/Canadian Pacific Telecommunications, starting as a microwave technician instructor stationed in Whitehorse, Yukon. In 1959, he authored an article in Popular Electronics that demystified transistors for hobbyists. By 1963, he transitioned to programming CN/CP’s mainframe systems based in Toronto. He departed CN/CP in 1981; while some accounts suggest disagreements over forecasts regarding personal computers' impact on teleprinter operations, Butterfield cited the company’s relocation and resulting commute difficulties as his reason for leaving. Subsequently, he pursued a career as an independent writer, programmer, and lecturer.
Computing career
Butterfield embraced the rise of microcomputers in May 1976 by purchasing a MOS KIM-1 and coauthoring an instructional book about it. He developed games and applications for multiple platforms and was a frequent contributor to publications such as COMPUTE!, COMPUTE!'s Gazette, The Transactor, and Printout. His work Machine Language Programming for the Commodore 64 and Other Commodore Computers became a definitive guide on programming the 6510 microprocessor.
Known for his clear and accessible writing style, Butterfield gained considerable popularity within the Commodore community; he was even featured in a centrefold spread of The Transactor. As a co-founder of the Toronto PET Users Group (TPUG), he served as its first speaker during its inaugural meeting in 1979. His reputation as an educator attracted attendees from far afield to TPUG events. Internationally acclaimed—earning the nickname "Commodore Pope" across Europe—he toured on behalf of Commodore to promote the VIC-20 and created training videos tailored for the Commodore 64.
In 1983, Butterfield appeared as the resident expert on TVOntario's The Academy, complementing his role as lead technical consultant for Bits and Bytes. That same year, he co-hosted Commodore’s debut World of Commodore event.
Throughout the 1980s, Butterfield conducted machine language instruction at TPUG and George Brown College, while also leading seminars during TPUG gatherings and World of Commodore conventions until his passing. He provided daily telephone support services and was actively engaged with early online platforms such as Q-Link and GEnie. His writings extended beyond Commodore systems to cover other platforms like the Atari 8-bit series running Microsoft BASIC.
An early proponent of free and source-accessible software, Butterfield contributed approximately one-quarter of TPUG’s original software collection. Many of his programs were distributed as type-in listings through magazines where he regularly published. Among his notable creations were SuperMon and TinyMon machine language monitors, which became indispensable tools for assembly language developers. His only commercial software product was SpellPro, a spell-checking utility designed for Steve Punter’s WordPro word processor.
Death and legacy
In November 2006, Butterfield revealed he was receiving chemotherapy treatment. He passed away on 29 June 2007 at Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. News of his passing was shared the following day on the comp.sys.cbm newsgroup and subsequently featured in obituaries published by the Toronto Star and the Edmonton Journal.
Expressions of respect and remembrance for Butterfield appeared extensively across both online platforms and traditional computing and mainstream media. In August 2007, The Globe and Mail honored him with a dedicated "Lives Lived" column. The Winter 2007 edition of the TPUG Newsletter included multiple biographies and tributes. Memorial services took place at Toronto’s Naval Club on 22 September, featuring a tribute video created by computer historian Syd Bolton, as well as at the World of Commodore 2007 event held on 1 December.
Personal life
Butterfield resided near downtown Toronto with his family. His interests encompassed gardening, playing piano, tending to his cats, engaging socially at Toronto’s Naval Club, and traveling to various urban destinations.
His spouse, Vicki Butterfield, though not involved in computing, was politically active with the Rhinoceros Party and stood as a candidate for office in Toronto. Together, they had a daughter named Susannah, born in 1988.
Publications
- The First Book of KIM (1977), co-written with Stan Ockers and Eric Rehnke, published by Hayden Book
- Learning Machine Code Programming on the Commodore 64 (and other Commodore computers) (1984), Brady
- Machine Language Programming for the Commodore 64: Commodore 64/Book and 64K Disk (1984), Simon & Schuster
- Commodore Reference Diary (1985)
- Machine Language for the Commodore 64, 128, and other Commodore computers (1986), Prentice Hall; updated version of C64 Machine Language Programming
External links
- (last updated 30 April 2007, shortly before his passing)
- Jim Butterfield at commodore.ca
- Hobby Computers of the '80s by Jim Butterfield, hosted by the Personal Computer Museum
- Jim Butterfield (1936–2007) by Mike Todd