Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis 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.

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...

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

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

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

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

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.

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...

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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 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.

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 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...

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....