--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you program, you want to think…" description: "\"When you program, you want to think you're writing the best possible program for the... for the task you're trying to solve.\" — Bill Gates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/bill-gates-137_program_when-you-program-you-want-to-think-you-r_900747.jpg" --- # When you program, you want to think you're writing the… ![“When you program, you want to think you're writing the best possible program for the... for the task you're trying to solve.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/bill-gates-137_program_when-you-program-you-want-to-think-you-r_900747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/bill-gates-137_program_when-you-program-you-want-to-think-you-r_900747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/447/bill-gates-137_program_when-you-program-you-want-to-think-you-r_900747.jpg) > “When you program, you want to think you're writing the best possible program for the... for the task you're trying to solve.” [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. Effective programming requires aligning code with the specific problem it solves, not just writing elegant code. **In simple terms:** Write code that fits the task. Key Takeaway Prioritize problem‑driven design. Themes software development problem solving efficiency Mood focused pragmatic Type technical advice When to use this quote - building a new app - debugging legacy code - optimizing performance Key Concepts algorithmic thinking user‑centered design Questions to Reflect On - How does task focus change your coding style? - What trade‑offs arise between elegance and practicality? A Different Perspective May overlook broader architectural concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“If you are unable to do any task, you should keep trying Until have done it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binkal-kilambu/if-you-are-unable-to-do-any-task-you-should-keep-trying-until-have/) Binkal kilambu > [The task I'm trying to achieve, above all, is to make you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-w-griffith/the-task-i-m-trying-to-achieve-above-all-is-to-make-you-see/) [D. W. Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-w-griffith/) > [When I was in high school, I was writing all the time, it was such good practice. But I wasn't writing my best songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-writing-all-the-time-it-was-such-good/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [I've always just wanted to earn my living by writing. The best thing is to go into my study in the morning and stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-ve-always-just-wanted-to-earn-my-living-by-writing-the-best-thing/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [For me, the goal is always to write a novel that I myself would like to read. People frequently ask me what my favorite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/for-me-the-goal-is-always-to-write-a-novel-that-i-myself-would-like/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [Writing is the best way to get your mind clear. 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I get 90% of my news online, and when I go to a meeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/paper-is-no-longer-a-big-part-of-my-day-i-get-90-of-my-news-online/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software will get to be somewhat more mature, ah, but it will never be as predictable as most areas of engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-will-get-to-be-somewhat-more-mature-ah-but-it-will-never-be/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Students deserve great teachers. And teachers deserve the support they need to become great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/students-deserve-great-teachers-and-teachers-deserve-the-support-they/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The machines need to get faster. 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Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Over time, yes, countries will need to look at specific GMO products like they look at drugs today, where they don't approve them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/over-time-yes-countries-will-need-to-look-at-specific-gmo-products/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Competition is always a fantastic thing, and the computer industry is intensely competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/competition-is-always-a-fantastic-thing-and-the-computer-industry-is/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I don't think there's anything unique about human intellience. All the nuerons in the brain that make up perceptions and emotions operate in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/i-don-t-think-there-s-anything-unique-about-human-intellience-all-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [At every juncture, advanced tools have been the key to a new wave of applications, and each wave of applications has been key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/at-every-juncture-advanced-tools-have-been-the-key-to-a-new-wave-of/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Software is more important than hardware.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/software-is-more-important-than-hardware/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Talking to mothers, always brings it home because they're so anxious to do everything they can for their kids and so tragic for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/talking-to-mothers-always-brings-it-home-because-they-re-so-anxious/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) [Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More Program quotes > [This welfare for wealthy companies wastes taxpayer dollars, harms the environment, and makes a mockery of the recent reductions in federal social spending programs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-nader/this-welfare-for-wealthy-companies-wastes-taxpayer-dollars-harms-the/) [Ralph Nader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-nader/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [Hard work and a good education will take you further than any government program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-schock/hard-work-and-a-good-education-will-take-you-further-than-any/) [Aaron Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-schock/) > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. 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