image processing

Tom transitioned from image processing to database management, particularly contributing to the Postgres project. He was part of a group that created an open-source implementation of JPEG, leading to the development of libjpeg, where he served as the principal maintainer for about five years. NASA's Perseverance rover uses libjpeg, a fact discovered by Joe Conway through research. Tom noted that the widespread adoption of JPEG was due to its efficient compression and the availability of a free implementation, which aided its integration into early web browsers. His interest in Postgres was influenced by its liberal licensing model, similar to that of libjpeg. Tom's commitment to open-source projects stems from his passion for collaborative software development, which began during his graduate studies in the 1980s. His PhD focused on software architecture, shaping his approach to both image processing and database management.