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The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should…

“The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra
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“The use of COBOL cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.”

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.

Teaching outdated languages can limit modern thinking and problem solving.

In simple terms: Old programming languages hinder modern thinking.

Key Takeaway

Embrace current, efficient languages.

Themes

education technology progress

Mood

critical analytical

Type

philosophical technical

When to use this quote

  • computer science curricula
  • training programs

Key Concepts

programming paradigms cognitive flexibility

Questions to Reflect On

  • Should we ban teaching legacy languages?
  • How can we balance history with innovation?
A Different Perspective

Obsolescence is not criminal; context matters.

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