Every program has (at least) two purposes: the one for which it was written and another for which it wasn't.
Alan PerlisRead
It is better to have 100 functions operate on one data structure than to have 10 functions operate on 10 data structures.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Simplicity and efficiency in programming can lead to more manageable and maintainable code.
This quote by Alan Perlis emphasizes the preference for having a single, well-defined data structure that multiple functions can interact with, as opposed to having several distinct data structures each requiring their own functions. This approach not only encourages better organization and reusability of code but also enhances clarity and reduces complexity, making programming tasks easier to manage.
Themes
ProgrammingData StructuresFunctionsEfficiencySimplicity
In practice
Example use cases
In a coding workshop, a mentor may reference this quote to explain the importance of code organization.
More from Alan Perlis
All quotes βBecause of its vitality, the computing field is always in desperate need of new cliches: Banality soothes our nerves.
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In computing, turning the obvious into the useful is a living definition of the word "frustration".
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A good programming language is a conceptual universe for thinking about programming.
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Every reader should ask himself periodically βToward what end, toward what end?ββbut do not ask it too often lest you pass up the fun of programming for the constipation of bittersweet philosophy.
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C programmers never die. They are just cast into void.
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