Best programming and hacker quotes. Ever.
Curated by fellow hackers Jarmo Pertman & Andri Möll
When someone says "I want a programming language in which I need only say what I wish done," give him a lollipop.
Alan J. Perlis
In effect, we conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells.
From SICP
The evolution of languages: FORTRAN is a non-typed language. C is a weakly typed language. Ada is a strongly typed language. C++ is a strongly hyped language.
Ron Sercely
When a programming language is created that allows programmers to program in simple English, it will be discovered that programmers cannot speak English.
Anonymous
Adapting old programs to fit new machines usually means adapting new machines to behave like old ones.
Alan J. Perlis
It's difficult to extract sense from strings, but they're the only communication coin we can count on.
Alan J. Perlis
Prolonged contact with the computer turns mathematicians into clerks and vice versa.
Alan J. Perlis
Optimization hinders evolution.
Alan J. Perlis
Behind Every Successful Coder, there'an even more successful De-Coder to understand that Code.
Anonymous
[The common definition of estimate is] "An estimate is the most optimistic prediction that has a non-zero probability of coming true" . . . Accepting this definition leads irrevocably toward a method called what's-the-earliest- date-by-which-you-can't-prove-you-won't-be- finished estimating.
Tom DeMarco