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We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil.
Donald Knuth
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Donald Knuth
Age: 86
Born: 1938
Born: January 10
Academic
Computer Scientist
Engineer
Historian Of Mathematics
Mathematician
Programmer
University Teacher
Writer
Milwaukee City
Wisconsin
Donald E. Knuth
Don Knuth
Donald Ervin Knuth
D.E.K.
DEK
Knuth
Small
Debugging
Forget
Premature
Evil
Programmers
Time
Efficiency
Programming
Root
Roots
Efficiencies
Learning
Optimization
More quotes by Donald Knuth
Any inaccuracies in this index may be explained by the fact that it has been prepared with the help of a computer.
Donald Knuth
We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil. Yet we should not pass up our opportunities in that critical 3%
Donald Knuth
Programming is legitimate and necessary academic endeavour.
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A list is only as strong as its weakest link.
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I think people who write programs do have at least a glimmer of extra insight into the nature of God... because creating a program often means that you have to create a small universe
Donald Knuth
Computer programming is an art, because it applies accumulated knowledge to the world, because it requires skill and ingenuity, and especially because it produces objects of beauty. A programmer who subconsciously views himself as an artist will enjoy what he does and will do it better.
Donald Knuth
A mathematical formula should never be owned by anybody! Mathematics belong to God.
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Everyday life is like programming, I guess. If you love something you can put beauty into it.
Donald Knuth
The best theory is inspired by practice.
Donald Knuth
I define UNIX as 30 definitions of regular expressions living under one roof.
Donald Knuth
It would be nice if we could design a virtual reality in Hyperbolic Space, and meet each other there.
Donald Knuth
Random numbers should not be generated with a method chosen at random
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Science is what we understand well enough to explain to a computer. Art is everything else we do.
Donald Knuth
My first program taught me a lot about the errors that I was going to be making in the future, and also about how to find errors. That's sort of the story of my life, making errors and trying to recover from them. I try to get things correct. I probably obsess about not making too many mistakes.
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The sun comes up just about as often as it goes down, in the long run, but this doesn't make its motion random.
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I try to learn certain areas of computer science exhaustively then I try to digest that knowledge into a form that is accessible to people who don't have time for such study.
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If you find that you're spending almost all your time on theory, start turning some attention to practical things it will improve your theories. If you find that you're spending almost all your time on practice, start turning some attention to theoretical things it will improve your practice.
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The manuals we got from IBM would show examples of programs and I knew I could do a heck of a lot better than that. So I thought I might have some talent.
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I have a hunch that the unknown sequences of DNA will decode into copyright notices and patent protections.
Donald Knuth
There's ways to amuse yourself while doing things and thats how I look at efficency.
Donald Knuth