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

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of...

You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of...

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.

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....

Is it possible that software is not like anything else, that it is meant to...

Is it possible that software is not like anything else, that it is meant to...

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

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

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

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...

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

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

In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming...

In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming...

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

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

We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses.

We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses.

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

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

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.

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.

In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word...

In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word...

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.

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

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