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

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

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...

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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....

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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