Alan Perlis

software system early bird worm

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

procedure parameters missed some

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

constant variable man

"One man's constant is another man's variable."

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

complexity fool pragmatic genius avoid

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

computer science embarrassed

"Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer."

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

computing turn obvious useful frustration

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

easier write incorrect program understand correct

"It is easier to write an incorrect program than understand a correct one."

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

program purpose written

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)

book programming alice wonderland

"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 (1922-1990)

programming language change progress

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

—Alan Perlis (1922-1990)