A novice asked the master: "I have a program that sometimes runs and
sometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am totally
baffled. What is the reason for this?"
The master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
the Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans. Why
do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed? Computers
simulate determinism; only the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is eternal.
Therefore you must contemplate the Tao before you receive enlightenment."
"But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
"Your program will then run correctly," replied the master.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
sometimes aborts. I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am totally
baffled. What is the reason for this?"
The master replied: "You are confused because you do not understand
the Tao. Only a fool expects rational behavior from his fellow humans. Why
do you expect it from a machine that humans have constructed? Computers
simulate determinism; only the Tao is perfect.
The rules of programming are transitory; only the Tao is eternal.
Therefore you must contemplate the Tao before you receive enlightenment."
"But how will I know when I have received enlightenment?" asked the
novice.
"Your program will then run correctly," replied the master.
-- Geoffrey James, "The Tao of Programming"
Related:
- A novice asked the master: "I have a program that sometime runs and
sometimes aborts.
I have followed the rules of programming, yet I am... - A novice asked the master: "I perceive that one computer company is
much larger than all others.
It towers above its competition like a giant among... - There once was a master programmer who wrote unstructured programs.
A novice programmer, seeking to imitate him, also began... - The Magician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the
master programmer to examine.
The magician wheeled a large black box into the master's... - Curse these personal computers!" cried the novice in anger,
"To make them do anything I must use three or even... - A novice asked the master: "In the east there is a great tree-structure
that men call 'Corporate Headquarters'.
It is bloated out of shape with vice-presidents and... - A master programmer passed a novice programmer one day.
The master noted the novice's preoccupation with a... - A master was explaining the nature of the Tao to one of his novices,
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless... - A master was explaining the nature of Tao to one of his novices.
"The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless...
From the same category:
- Children are curly,
dimpled lunatics... - It is better to limp all the way to heaven, than not to get there at all.
William... - It is good news, worthy of all acceptation; and yet not too good to be true.
Mathew Henry (1662-1714) -- Commentaries, Timothy... - I just booted my computer...
it went 23 yards!... - It seemed to me that, somehow, the blue jay was trying to communicate
with me.
I would see him fly into the house across the way,...
