Nothing has ever been
Nothing has ever been achieved by the person who says, ‘It can’t be done.’ Eleanor Roosevelt
Computer Language
A most important, but
A most important, but also most elusive, aspect of any tool is its influence on the habits of those who train themselves in its use. If the tool is a programming language this influence is, whether we like it or not, an influence on our thinking habits…. A programming language is a tool that has … Read more
FORTRAN, the infantile disorder,
FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today: it is now too clumsy, too risky, and too expensive to use. Edsger Dijkstra
About the use of
About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead. Edsger Dijkstra
The use of COBOL
The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense. Edsger Dijkstra
The tools we use
The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities. Edsger Dijkstra
Besides a mathematical inclination,
Besides a mathematical inclination, an exceptionally good mastery of one’s native tongue is the most vital asset of a competent programmer. Edsger Dijkstra
It is practically impossible
It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to BASIC: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration. Edsger Dijkstra
We can think of
We can think of descriptions almost as computer languages, an operative description that only deals with very simple operations. Its code is sex – Male, female, dark, light, up down, in out – its the language of duality. Frederick Lenz
The magic of myth
The magic of myth and legend has come true in our time. One types the correct incantation on a keyboard, and a display screen comes to life, showing things that never were nor could be…. The computer resembles the magic of legend in this respect, too. If one character, one pause, of the incantation is … Read more