The Quotation IndexThe trusted reference for quotations and the sources behind them
Tag Tag Reliability
There are two ways of constructing a software design: One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies, and the other way is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies.
Tony Hoare The Emperor’s Old Clothes · 1981

Quotes

“If anything, I now believe even more strongly that reliability is essential for progress in life and while quantum mechanics is unlearnable for a vast majority, reliability can be learned to great advantage by almost anyone.”

Charlie Munger · Poor Charlie’s Almanack, 2005 · Primary source

“The price of reliability is the pursuit of the utmost simplicity.”

Tony Hoare · The Emperor’s Old Clothes, 1981 · Primary source

“The most important property of a program is whether it accomplishes the intentions of its user.”

Tony Hoare · An Axiomatic Basis for Computer Programming, 1969 · Primary source

“I was eventually persuaded of the need to design programming notations so as to maximize the number of errors which cannot be made, or if made, can be reliably detected at compile time.”

Tony Hoare · The Emperor’s Old Clothes, 1981 · Primary source

“Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“When the wine enters, out goes the truth.”

Benjamin Franklin · Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1732-1758 · Primary source

“You had to trust the people you worked with completely or not at all, and you had to make decisions about the trusting.”

Ernest Hemingway · For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940 · Primary source

“Although he had not got to bed until two, Bond walked into his headquarters punctually at ten the next morning.”

Ian Fleming · Moonraker, 1955 · Primary source

Works

Tony Hoare · 1974
Hints on Programming-Language Design

Practical advice on designing programming languages, arguing that they should prioritise simplicity, reliability and the needs of the programmer over elaborate features.

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Tony Hoare · 1983
Programming is an Engineering Profession

An argument that programming should be regarded as a branch of engineering, combining scientific foundations with practical discipline and professional responsibility for reliability.

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Tony Hoare · 1985
The Mathematics of Programming

Hoare's Oxford inaugural lecture, arguing that programming is a mathematical activity and that mathematical methods can ensure programs are correct and reliable.

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Related Tags

Simplicity 35 Decision-making 35 Judgement 31 Trust 21 Discipline 19 Commitment 17 Reputation 16 Truth 16 Complexity 15 Consistency 10 Trade-offs 7 Personal development 7 Programming languages 7 Formal methods 7 Software design 5 Alcohol 5 Language design 4 University of Oxford 4 Program correctness 4 Professionalism 3 Routine 3 Software engineering 3 Mathematics 3 Teamwork 2 Punctuality 2 Inaugural lecture 2 Error prevention 1 Compile-time checking 1 Safety 1 Promises 1 Intoxication 1 Trustworthiness 1 Readability 1 Engineering discipline 1