Progress is possible only if we train ourselves to think about programs without thinking of them as pieces of executable code.
Edsger DijkstraRead
A most important, but also most elusive, aspect of any tool is its influence on the habits of those who train themselves in its use. If the tool is a programming language this influence is, whether we like it or not, an influence on our thinking habits.... A programming language is a tool that has profound influence on our thinking habits.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The way we use programming languages shapes our thinking patterns and habits.
Edsger Dijkstra emphasizes the profound impact that programming languages, as tools, have on our cognitive processes. He suggests that these languages not only serve as instruments for coding but also mold our thinking habits, influencing how we approach problem-solving and conceptualize ideas in the realm of technology.
Themes
ProgrammingLanguageThinkingHabitsInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
During a tech conference, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of understanding the underlying impact of the tools developers use.
More from Edsger Dijkstra
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We shall do a much better programming job, provided that we approach the task with a full appreciation of its tremendous difficulty, provided that we stick to modest and elegant programming languages, provided that we respect the intrinsic limitations of the human mind and approach the task as Very Humble Programmers.
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The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.
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LISP has jokingly been described as "the most intelligent way to misuse a computer." I think that description is a great compliment because it transmits the full flavour of liberation: it has assisted a number of our most gifted fellow humans in thinking previously impossible thoughts.
Edsger DijkstraRead
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