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

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

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....

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.

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...

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.

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.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

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...

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

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...

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...

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.