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FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years…

“FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today: it is now too clumsy, too risky, and too expensive to use.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra
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“FORTRAN, the infantile disorder, by now nearly 20 years old, is hopelessly inadequate for whatever computer application you have in mind today: it is now too clumsy, too risky, and too expensive to use.”

Edsger Dijkstra

About This Quote

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

FORTRAN is outdated, cumbersome, risky, and costly for modern computing needs.

In simple terms: FORTRAN is obsolete and inefficient.

Key Takeaway

Adopt modern programming languages.

Themes

technology obsolescence efficiency

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

technical critical

When to use this quote

  • system design
  • education
  • budget planning
  • risk management

Key Concepts

software engineering legacy systems

Questions to Reflect On

  • What alternatives fit your needs?
  • How to mitigate migration risks?
A Different Perspective

Transitioning legacy code is complex.

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