A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming.
ALAN PERLISIt goes against the grain of modern education to teach children to program.
More Alan Perlis Quotes
-
-
You can measure a programmer’s perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.
ALAN PERLIS -
In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.
ALAN PERLIS -
Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.
ALAN PERLIS -
The best book on programming for the layman is Alice in Wonderland, but that’s because it’s the best book on anything for the layman.
ALAN PERLIS -
Is it possible that software is not like anything else.
ALAN PERLIS -
Hardly any sets of 10K words can be adequately described with pictures.
ALAN PERLIS -
When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customers got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously.
ALAN PERLIS -
One man’s constant is another man’s variable.
ALAN PERLIS -
Are more sure when you can write, even more when you can teach, but certain when you can program.
ALAN PERLIS -
Optimization hinders evolution.
ALAN PERLIS -
Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.
ALAN PERLIS -
“Toward what end, toward what end?”-but do not ask it too often lest you pass up the fun of programming for the constipation of bittersweet philosophy.
ALAN PERLIS -
When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.
ALAN PERLIS -
When someone says, “I want a programming language in which I need only say what I want done,” give him a lollipop.
ALAN PERLIS -
In English every word can be verbed.
ALAN PERLIS