Guard Quote by Damian Conway
“C++ tries to guard against Murphy, not Machiavelli.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk on C++ Programming, Damian Conway, 2005
C++ is designed to prevent programmer errors (Murphy) rather than to manipulate outcomes (Machiavelli).
In simple terms: C++ guards against bugs, not scheming.
Focus on writing safe code.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- software development
- code review
- debugging
- team coding
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance safety and flexibility?
- Can defensive coding hinder performance?
C++ cannot prevent logical design flaws.