Darryl K. Taft, a respected technology journalist and news editor, is remembered for his interviewing talent, writing ability, and kindness. He died on August 3, 2026, at the age of 67, after a short illness.
Taft had a long and successful career, covering foundational software concepts, including development, cloud computing, AI, DevOps, and open source, for over 40 years.
He was a gentle giant in the field, known for his care, curiosity, generosity, and kindness, and is remembered by fellow journalists, communications leaders, and technologists for his interviewing talent and writing ability.
Dr. James Gosling, the father of Java, once said he determined whether a person was good to work with by whether he enjoyed having dinner with them, and Taft was a favorite tablemate of his.
Taft’s background as a programmer and his experience working in banking IT and technical documentation gave him a rare ability to make complex tech concepts easy for anyone to understand.
He held significant roles at major publications, including eWEEK, TechTarget, and The New Stack, where he served as news editor starting in 2021, and wrote and edited thousands of articles, including pieces on coding performance and its impact on the industry.
Alex Williams, co-founder of The New Stack, remembered Taft as a calm and gentle soul with a deep understanding of the developer ecosystem, and said he felt lucky to have known and worked with him.
Heather Joslyn was features editor at The New Stack from 2021 to 2023 and editor-in-chief from 2023 to 2026, and worked with Taft daily. “Darryl and I joined the staff of The New Stack at about the same time, and we began working more closely together once I moved into the editor-in-chief role in November 2023. I quickly became aware, especially as Covid-era travel restrictions lifted and I began attending tech conferences, how revered and respected Darryl was in the tech journalism field. He was commonly referred to as a ‘giant’ in our field, one who was covering the modern tech industry when it was
Taft’s ability to connect with people and make complex topics easy to understand was a hallmark of his career, and his legacy will continue to inspire and influence the tech journalism community, much like the impact of open source models on the industry.
Taft’s impact on the tech industry extends beyond his own work, as he mentored and inspired many other journalists and writers, and his commitment to quality and integrity has raised the bar for the entire field.
In an era where speed is often prioritized over quality, Taft’s focus on careful, well-researched storytelling is a valuable reminder of the importance of taking the time to get the story right.
