Programming

Algorithms

I’m very aware that the word “algorithm” makes about 85% of people want to gouge their own eyes, right? But I mentioned this at a tech conference that I was at to someone, and they agreed with me. But they added that it makes the remaining 15% of people mildly aroused. – Hannah Fry (source)

Become Managers

Programmers who refuse to keep exploring will stagnate, forget their joy and lose the will to program (and become managers). – M Haverbeke (source)

Code Addict

When a code addict needs a fix, they just do a few extra lines.

Computer Programs

Computer programs are the most complex things that humans make. – Douglas Crockford (source)

Creator of Universes

The computer programmer is a creator of universes for which he alone is responsible. – Joseph Weizenbaum (source)

Debugging Detective

Debugging is like being the detective in a crime movie where you are also the murderer. – Filipe Fortes (source)

Give Someone A Program

Give someone a program, you frustrate them for a day; teach them how to program, you frustrate them for a lifetime. – David Leinweber (source)

Id Software Principles

No prototypes. Just make the game. Polish as you go. Don’t depend on polish happening later. Always maintain constantly shippable code. It’s incredibly important that your game can always be run by your team. Bulletproof your engine by providing defaults upon load failure. Keep your code absolutely simple. Keep looking at your functions and figure out how you can simplify further. Great tools help make great games. Spend as much time on tools as possible.

Machines & People

Machines should work. People should think. – IBM commercial (source)

Programming In IRL

Programming IRL: “ETA for an apple pie?” “2h” 8h later: “Where is it?” “You didn’t tell me the dishes were dirty and you lacked an oven.” – Rick Fillion (source)

Python - "import *"

Put “True, False = False, True” into your python libraries. People will soon learn to not “import *” from them… – The Rev Johnny Healey (source)

Software Complexity

So much complexity in software comes from trying to make one thing do two things. – Ryan Singer (source)

Solving Problems

In programming, the hard part isn’t solving problems, but deciding what problems to solve. – Paul Graham (source)

Someone Else's Responsibility

Algorithmic complexity for structured programmers: All algorithms are O(f(n)), where f is someone else’s responsibility. – Peter Cooper (source)

Specs

Writing specs is like flossing: everybody agrees that it’s a good thing, but nobody does it. – Joel Spolsky (source)

The Quality Of Programmers

The quality of programmers is a decreasing function of the density of go to statements in the programs they produce. – Dijkstra