Program testing can be used to show the presence of bugs, but never to show their absence!

Quote by Edsger Dijkstra

Topics: Edsger Dijkstra Quotes

The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding...

The lurking suspicion that something could be simplified is the world's richest source of rewarding...

The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question...

The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question...

Why has elegance found so little following? That is the reality of it. Elegance has...

Why has elegance found so little following? That is the reality of it. Elegance has...

Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure.

Elegance is not a dispensable luxury but a factor that decides between success and failure.

I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But...

I mentioned the non-competitive spirit explicitly, because these days, excellence is a fashionable concept. But...

Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the...

Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the...

Object-oriented programming is an exceptionally bad idea which could only have originated in California.

Object-oriented programming is an exceptionally bad idea which could only have originated in California.

The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He...

The competent programmer is fully aware of the limited size of his own skull. He...

Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a...

Many mathematicians derive part of their self-esteem by feeling themselves the proud heirs of a...

The students that, like the wild animal being prepared for its tricks in the circus...

The students that, like the wild animal being prepared for its tricks in the circus...

Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.

Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.

If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly...

If 10 years from now, when you are doing something quick and dirty, you suddenly...

Perfecting oneself is as much unlearning as it is learning.

Perfecting oneself is as much unlearning as it is learning.

Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.

Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.

Aim for brevity while avoiding jargon.

Aim for brevity while avoiding jargon.

The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.

The ability of discerning high quality unavoidably implies the ability of identifying shortcomings.

About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt...

About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt...

Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys...

Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys...

It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior...

It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior...

Mathematicians are like managers - they want improvement without change.

Mathematicians are like managers - they want improvement without change.