Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
Arrogance in computer science is measured in nano-Dijkstras.
Alan Kay
Over the centuries the Indians developed sign language for communicating phenomena of interest. Programmers from different tribes (FORTRAN, LISP, ALGOL, SNOBOL, etc.) could use one that doesn't require them to carry a blackboard on their ponies.
Alan J. Perlis
Functions delay binding; data structures induce binding. Moral: Structure data late in the programming process.
Alan J. Perlis
When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.
Alan J. Perlis
FORTRAN is not a flower but a weed — it is hardy, occasionally blooms, and grows in every computer.
Alan J. Perlis
Three things should never be seen in the process of being created: laws, sausage, and software.
Anonymous
Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.
Alan J. Perlis
In my experience, one of the most significant problems in software development is assuming. If you assume a method will passed the right parameter value, the method will fail.
Paul M. Duvall
If our customers wanted a product that worked that way, tell them to purchase a product that works that way.
Anonymous
One man's constant is another man's variable.
Alan J. Perlis