Quote #4
The princicples of modularity, simplicity, or orthogonality, insofar as they
contribute to overall simplicity, are an excellent means to an end; but as a
substitute for simplicity they are very questionable. Since in practice they
have proved to be a technically more difficult achievement than simplicity,
it is foolish to accept them as primary objectives.
-- C.A.R. Hoare, "Hints on programming language design"
[STAN-CS-73-403 (AIM-224), p.7]
The princicples of modularity, simplicity, or orthogonality, insofar as they
contribute to overall simplicity, are an excellent means to an end; but as a
substitute for simplicity they are very questionable. Since in practice they
have proved to be a technically more difficult achievement than simplicity,
it is foolish to accept them as primary objectives.
-- C.A.R. Hoare, "Hints on programming language design"
[STAN-CS-73-403 (AIM-224), p.7]
Related:
- The unavoidable price of reliability is simplicity. -- C. Hoare
- Quote #5
Here is a classic example of a language feature which combines danger to the
programmer with difficulty for the implementor.
-- C.A.R. Hoare, "Hints on programming language design" [ STAN-CS-73-403 (AIM-224), p.... - Quote #6
The more I ponder the principles of language design, and the techniques
which put them into practice, the more is my amazement and admiration of
ALGOL 60.
Here is a language so far ahead of its time, that it was not only an improvement on its predecessors, but also on neary all its successors.... - Seek simplicity, and distrust it.
- Quote #644
The price of reliability is the pursuit of utmost simplicity.
It is a price which the very rich find most hard to pay.... - Quote #650 Simplex Veri Sigillum - simplicity is the seal of truth
- Don't edit reality for the sake of simplicity.
- Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.
- Simplicity is always a virtue. -- Edward Abbey
