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It is a mistake to think that programmers wares are…

“It is a mistake to think that programmers wares are programs. Programmers have to produce trustworthy solutions and present it in the form of cogent arguments. Programs source code is just the accompanying material to which these arguments are to be applied to.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra
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“It is a mistake to think that programmers wares are programs. Programmers have to produce trustworthy solutions and present it in the form of cogent arguments. Programs source code is just the accompanying material to which these arguments are to be applied to.”

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.

Programming is about building reliable, reasoned solutions; code is merely evidence of the underlying argument.

In simple terms: Programming is reasoning, code is evidence.

Key Takeaway

Focus on clear arguments, not just code.

Themes

software engineering reliability logic communication

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

technical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • software design
  • code review
  • technical documentation
  • client presentations

Key Concepts

formal methods argumentation trustworthiness

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you ensure your code reflects a solid argument?
  • What processes validate the trustworthiness of a solution?
A Different Perspective

Code alone cannot guarantee trust; reasoning must accompany implementation.

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