There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

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

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

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...

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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...

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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....

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

The computing field is always in need of new cliches.

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.

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...

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...

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...