Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Complexity Quotes

A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.

A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.

One man's constant is another man's variable.

One man's constant is another man's variable.

LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.

LISP programmers know the value of everything and the cost of nothing.

Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.

Don't have good ideas if you aren't willing to be responsible for them.

I think it is inevitable that people program poorly. Training will not substantially help matters....

I think it is inevitable that people program poorly. Training will not substantially help matters....

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.

If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.

In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.

In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.

A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly...

A picture is worth 10K words - but only those to describe the picture. Hardly...

Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.

Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it.

If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.

If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.

Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.

Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.

It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.

It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.

A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.

Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for...

Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for...

If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.

If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.

It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun...

It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun...