Every program has (at least) two purposes: the one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.
Alan PerlisRead
In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word "frustration".
Interpretation
What this quote means
Frustration in computing arises when simple solutions are overlooked or not implemented effectively.
Alan Perlis highlights a common challenge in the realm of computing: the difficulty of transforming obvious ideas into practical solutions. This 'frustration' emerges when straightforward solutions are ignored or when simplicity is overly complicated, underscoring the importance of clarity and efficacy in technological development.
Themes
ComputingFrustrationSimplicitySolutionsTechnology
In practice
Example use cases
During a tech conference when discussing software development challenges.
More from Alan Perlis
All quotes →Because of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches: Banality soothes our nerves.
Alan PerlisRead
It is better to have 100 functions operate on one data structure than to have 10 functions operate on 10 data structures.
Alan PerlisRead
A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming.
Alan PerlisRead
Every reader should ask himself periodically “Toward what end, toward what end?”—but do not ask it too often lest you pass up the fun of programming for the constipation of bittersweet philosophy.
Alan PerlisRead
C programmers never die. They are just cast into void.
Alan PerlisRead
Similar quotes
There are only two industries that refer to their customers as 'users'.
Edward TufteRead
We shall do a much better programming job, provided that we approach the task with a full appreciation of its tremendous difficulty, provided that we stick to modest and elegant programming languages, provided that we respect the intrinsic limitations of the human mind and approach the task as Very Humble Programmers.
Edsger DijkstraRead
What matters is 'Have you done a better job of making our experiences feel like home on Windows?' That's our real goal, and that's what we're going to stay focused on.
Satya NadellaRead
The fundamental truth for developers is they will build if there are users.
Satya NadellaRead
Innovation has nothing to do with how many R & D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It's not about money. It's about the people you have, how you're led, and how much you get it.
Steve JobsRead
Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by the DRM, they go out and buy the cracked books or download the cracked books for free. It’s only people who are foolish enough to pay for them that get locked into these platforms.
Cory DoctorowRead