Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
C trades a slap on the wrist at compile time for a knife in the back at run time.
Anonymous
In a 5 year period we get one superb programming language. Only we can't control when the 5 year period will be.
Alan J. Perlis
The string is a stark data structure and everywhere it is passed there is much duplication of process. It is a perfect vehicle for hiding information.
Alan J. Perlis
Java is a DSL to transform big Xml documents into long exception stack traces.
Scott Bellware
In effect, we conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells.
From SICP
It’s hard to read through a book on the principles of magic without glancing at the cover periodically to make sure it isn’t a book on software design.
Bruce Tognazzini
I went to school to learn how to program software applications, which inevitably have bug defects. There was no course at my university on testing, debugging, profiling, or optimization. These things you have to learn on your own, usually in a tight deadline.
Juixe TechKnow
I would love to change the world, but they won't give me the source code.
Anonymous
... what society overwhelmingly asks for is snake oil. Of course, the snake oil has the most impressive names — otherwise you would be selling nothing — like "Structured Analysis and Design", "Software Engineering", "Maturity Models", "Management Information Systems", "Integrated Project Support Environments" "Object Orientation" and "Business Process Re-engineering" (the latter three being known as IPSE, OO and BPR, respectively).
Edsger W. Dijkstra
Always code as if the guy who ends up maintaining your code will be a violent psychopath who knows where you live.
Rick Osborne