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

Alan Perlis

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Alan Perlis
Age: 67 †
Born: 1922
Born: April 1
Died: 1990
Died: February 7
Computer Scientist
Mathematician
University Teacher
Pittsburg
Pennsylvania
Alan Jay Perlis
Alan J. Perlis
Noting
Programmer
Programmers
Vitality
Continuing
Measure
Perspective
Attitude
Fortran

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Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.
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Optimization hinders evolution.
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When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.
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A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming.
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One can only display complex information in the mind. Like seeing, movement or flow or alteration of view is more important than the static picture, no matter how lovely.
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A LISP programmer knows the value of everything, but the cost of nothing.
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A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.
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Optimization hinders evolution. Everything should be built top-down, except the first time. Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.
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It goes against the grain of modern education to teach children to program. What fun is there in making plans, acquiring discipline in organizing thoughts, devoting attention to detail and learning to be self-critical?
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A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming is not worth knowing.
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One can't proceed from the informal to the formal by formal means.
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Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.
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Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.
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Once you understand how to write a program get someone else to write it.
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C programmers never die. They are just cast into void.
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In English every word can be verbed. Would that it were so in our programming languages.
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A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.
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In the long run, every program becomes rococo, and then rubble.
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Because of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches: Banality soothes our nerves.
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Often it is the means that justify the ends: goals advance technique and technique survives even when goal structures crumble.
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