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The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write…

“The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and I fished out listings of their operating systems.” quote by Bill Gates
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“The best way to prepare [to be a programmer] is to write programs, and to study great programs that other people have written. In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and I fished out listings of their operating systems.”

Bill Gates

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Learning programming is best through hands‑on coding and studying existing code, even from unconventional sources.

In simple terms: Practice coding and study others' programs to learn.

Key Takeaway

Write code, study great code.

Themes

learning practice programming curiosity resourcefulness

Mood

practical motivational curious

Type

technical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • bootcamps
  • personal projects
  • code review
  • peer mentorship

Key Concepts

software engineering self‑directed learning open source

Questions to Reflect On

  • What code will you explore next?
  • How do you ensure code quality while learning?
A Different Perspective

Reliance on outdated or poorly written code can mislead.

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