Welcome to this in-depth look at the Pixar Whiteboard Incident, a pivotal moment in the history of Pixar and the relationship between Steve Jobs and the company's founders.

Steve Jobs, known for his intense personality and desire for control, played a significant role in Pixar's early years. He provided the financial backing necessary for the company's survival and growth, but his management style often led to conflicts with the existing team.

Alvy Ray Smith, a co-founder of Pixar, was instrumental in the company's early technological developments. He was a key figure in the creation of the Pixar Image Computer, a groundbreaking piece of technology that revolutionized computer animation.

The incident itself occurred during a board meeting in 1990. Jobs was berating Smith and other top Pixar executives for delays in completing the circuit boards for the new version of the Pixar Image Computer.

Smith pointed out that NeXT, Jobs' other company, was also late with its own computer boards, which escalated the situation. Jobs became aggressive, mocking Smith's southwestern accent in a sarcastic manner.

"It was a bully tactic, and I exploded with everything I had. Before I knew it, we were in each other’s faces—about three inches apart—screaming at each other." Alvy Ray Smith, 1990.

The confrontation reached its peak when Smith, in defiance of Jobs' possessiveness over the whiteboard, pushed past him and began writing on it. Jobs shouted, "You can't do that!" Smith responded, "What? I can't write on your whiteboard? Bullshit."

The whiteboard incident marked the culmination of a long-standing tension between Smith and Jobs. Following this confrontation, Smith realized he could no longer work under Jobs' leadership and began to distance himself from the company.

Despite the incident, Pixar continued to thrive, with Ed Catmull and John Lasseter playing key roles in maintaining the company's creative direction and culture.

The Pixar Whiteboard Incident is a reminder of the complex and often fraught relationships that can exist in the world of business, particularly when strong personalities clash.