John Carmack is an American software engineer and programmer best known for co-founding id Software and serving as lead programmer on Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake. His work on rendering techniques and game engines helped establish the technical foundations of the modern first-person shooter and advanced real-time 3D computer graphics. He also became known for releasing source code from older id Software games, contributing to open-source game development.

In 2000, Carmack founded Armadillo Aerospace, where he worked on reusable rocket technology. He joined Oculus VR as chief technology officer in 2013 and later served as consulting CTO after Facebook acquired the company, focusing on virtual reality systems. In 2022, he left Meta to concentrate on artificial general intelligence and founded Keen Technologies. Carmack has received major industry recognition, including a BAFTA Fellowship in 2016, reflecting his influence across games, graphics, virtual reality and software engineering.