Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
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
A computer programmer is a device for turning coffee into bugs.
Bram Moolenaar
Easy things should be easy and hard things should be possible.
Larry Wall
My assertion that we can do better with computer languages is a persistent belief and fond hope, but you'll note I don't actually claim to be either rational or right. Except when it's convenient.
Larry Wall
Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.
Alan J. Perlis
In software, the most beautiful code, the most beautiful functions, and the most beautiful programs are sometimes not there at all.
Jon Bentley
Software is under a constant tension. Being symbolic it is arbitrarily perfectible; but also it is arbitrarily changeable.
Alan J. Perlis
Computer programmers don't byte, they nibble a bit.
Anonymous
Debuggers don't remove bugs. They only show them in slow motion.
Anonymous
When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.
Alan J. Perlis