Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
It should be noted that no ethically-trained software engineer would ever consent to write a DestroyBaghdad procedure. Basic professional ethics would instead require him to write a DestroyCity procedure, to which Baghdad could be given as a parameter.
Nathaniel S Borenstein
APL, I believe, can only be learned by writing one-liners–only by seeing in a sense, what you can compress into a line.
Alan J Perlis
The best code is no code at all.
Anonymous
If it doesn't work, it doesn't matter how fast it doesn't work.
Ravera's observation on premature optimization
What is the difference between a Turing machine and the modern computer? It's the same as that between Hillary's ascent of Everest and the establishment of a Hilton hotel on its peak.
Alan J. Perlis
Development has two outputs... Code & Bugs
Anonymous
Wherever there is modularity there is the potential for misunderstanding: Hiding information implies a need to check communication.
Alan J. Perlis
If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
Robert X. Cringely
The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90% probability you'll get it wrong.
Anonymous
A good programmer looks both ways before crossing a one-way street.
Anonymous