Dijkstra and PL/1
I have to admit that I’ve never had the pleasure to use PL/1 but I’ve seen it and I can understand Dijkstras opinion: Finally, although the subject is not a pleasant one, I must mention PL/1, a programming language for which the defining documentation is of a frightening size and complexity. Using PL/1 must be like flying a piano with 7,000 buttons, switches. and handles to manipulate in the cockpit. I absolutely fail to see how we can keep our growing programs firmly within our intellectual grip when by its sheer baroqueness the programming language – our basic tool, mind...
Read MoreAvoid being an asshole
I’ve just been reading a research paper and I agree on much of what was being said in it. But it took me several times before I managed to read it … why? Simply because the authors style of writing made him come across as an asshole that was just complaining on others in a very condescending way. It was really difficult trying to avoid getting upset and finish the paper. Lesson learned: if you want to send people a message, avoid sounding like an asshole !!!
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