You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.

Quote by Alan Perlis

Topics: Alan Perlis Quotes

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...

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

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.

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 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.

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...

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.

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....

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

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

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...

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.