Brendan Patrick Kehoe (3 December 1970 – 19 July 2011) was an Irish software developer and writer.

[2] Kehoe wrote two books and a number of technology articles in the specialist press (e.g., Boardwatch Magazine) on the topic of the Internet.

Zen was written while Kehoe was still at Widener; he struck a bargain with the publishers to ensure that the original edition of the book would remain free-of-charge in the internet for everyone to access.

[4] As one of the first substantial books freely available for reuse on the Internet, Zen predated and helped to inspire the free culture movement.

Kehoe was a dedicated and detailed programmer, who, as a student, volunteered changes to one of the most complex pieces of free software in the world at the time, the GNU C++ Compiler and Library.