We want to galvanize people's imaginations. With enough political will and investment, we could make wheelchairs obsolete.
Miguel NicolelisRead
In engineering, as in other creative arts, we must learn to do analysis to support our efforts in synthesis. One cannot build a beautiful and functional bridge without a knowledge of steel and dirt, and a considerable mathematical technique for using this knowledge to compute the properties of structures. Similarly, one cannot build a beautiful computer system without a deep understanding of how to "previsualize" the process generated by the code one writes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding the fundamentals is essential for creating sophisticated systems.
The quote by Gerald Jay Sussman emphasizes the importance of having foundational knowledge in both engineering and computer science. It highlights that just as one must learn about materials and mathematical principles to construct a bridge, a software developer must deeply understand the processes generated by their code to create effective and elegant computer systems, intertwining analysis with synthesis in creative endeavors.
Themes
EngineeringSynthesisAnalysisTechnologyCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared in a college engineering class to inspire students about the importance of foundational skills.
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