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We are on the verge: Today our program proved Fermat's next-to-last theorem.

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
Proved
Program
Lasts
Last
Next
Fermat
Today
Theorem
Theorems
Verge

More quotes by Alan Perlis

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A programming language is low level when its programs require attention to the irrelevant.
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In software systems it is often the early bird that makes the worm.
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Programmers are not to be measured by their ingenuity and their logic but by the completeness of their case analysis.
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If your computer speaks English, it was probably made in Japan.
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Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.
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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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There is no such thing as a free variable.
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It is easier to change the specification to fit the program than vice versa.
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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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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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In computing, the mean time to failure keeps getting shorter.
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A LISP programmer knows the value of everything, but the cost of nothing.
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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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When a professor insists computer science is X but not Y, have compassion for his graduate students.
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Syntactic sugar causes cancer of the semicolon.
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Computer Science is embarrassed by the computer.
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If a listener nods his head when you're explaining your program, wake him up.
Alan Perlis
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Some programming languages manage to absorb change, but withstand progress.
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You think you KNOW when you learn, are more sure when you can write, even more when you can teach, but certain when you can program.
Alan Perlis