Bugs Quote by Donald Knuth
“Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Programming, 1974
A programmer’s confidence in code can be misplaced without testing; proof alone isn’t sufficient.
In simple terms: Proof isn’t enough without testing.
Always test your code.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- critical systems
- software releases
- debugging
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What methods ensure code reliability?
- When is formal proof appropriate?
Testing can be costly and time‑consuming.