Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.
Edsger DijkstraRead
How do we convince people that in programming simplicity and clarity - in short: what mathematicians call elegance - are not a dispensable luxury, but a crucial matter that decides between success and failure?
Interpretation
What this quote means
Simplicity and clarity in programming are essential for success, not just optional qualities.
In this quote, Edsger Dijkstra emphasizes the importance of elegance in programming. He argues that simplicity and clarity should not be viewed as luxuries but as necessities that significantly influence whether a programming endeavor will succeed or fail. The idea is that the way code is written can have a profound impact on the outcome of a project, making it crucial for programmers to focus on these qualities.
Themes
SimplicityClarityEleganceProgrammingSuccessFailure
In practice
Example use cases
In a programming seminar discussing best practices, one might say this quote to emphasize the importance of writing clear and simple code.
More from Edsger Dijkstra
All quotes →Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.
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The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise.
Edsger DijkstraRead
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.
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The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.
Edsger DijkstraRead
LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment because it transmits the full flavour of liberation: it has assisted a number of our most gifted fellow humans in thinking previously impossible thoughts.
Edsger DijkstraRead
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