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

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

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...

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....

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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...

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.

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.