15 Alan Perlis Quotes for You to Enjoy

Alan Perlis

American Scientist

Born: Apr 1, 1922

Died: Feb 7, 1990

Anything Every Program Programming Two You

Related authors: Ben Carson Carl Sagan E. O. Wilson George Washington Carver Isaac Asimov Margaret Mead Neil deGrasse Tyson W. Edwards Deming

Fools ignore complexity. Pragmatists suffer it. Some can avoid it. Geniuses remove it. Alan Perlis

Fools Remove Complexity Some Geniuses Ignore Avoid Suffer

A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant. Alan Perlis

Language Programming Programming Language Programs Attention Irrelevant Low Require Level

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it. Alan Perlis

Simplicity Complexity Follows Does Precede

In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm. Alan Perlis

Technology Bird Software Worm Systems Makes Often Early Early Bird

Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress. Alan Perlis

Change Progress Programming Some Absorb Withstand Manage Languages

It goes against the grain of modern education to teach students to program. What fun is there to making plans, acquiring discipline, organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail, and learning to be self critical. Alan Perlis

Education Thoughts Learning Discipline Critical Detail Self Students Attention Self-Critical Making Goes Modern Modern Education Grain Against Acquiring Teach Plans Organizing Fun Program

In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages. Alan Perlis

Word Every Programming Our Would Were Languages English

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works. Alan Perlis

Programs Ways Only Write Works Two Third

The computing field is always in need of new cliches. Alan Perlis

Field Computing New Cliches Always Need

Every program has two purposes: The one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't. Alan Perlis

Every Purposes Written Another Which Two Program

If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up. Alan Perlis

You Head Him His Wake Up Listener Explaining Your Program

If you have a procedure with 10 parameters, you probably missed some. Alan Perlis

You Parameters Some Missed Procedure

In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word 'frustration'. Alan Perlis

Frustration Word Living Definition Computers Computing Obvious Turning Useful

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

Best Book Programming Alice Layman Because Wonderland Anything

You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN. Alan Perlis

Attitude You Perspective Vitality Continuing His Noting Measure Programmer

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