--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: APL is a mistake, carried through to…" description: "\"APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. It is the language of the future for the programming techniques of the past: it creates a new generati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/edsger-dijkstra-5102_coding_apl-is-a-mistake-carried-through-to-perf_2258871.jpg" --- # APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. It is the… ![“APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. It is the language of the future for the programming techniques of the past: it creates a new generation of coding bums.” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/edsger-dijkstra-5102_coding_apl-is-a-mistake-carried-through-to-perf_2258871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/edsger-dijkstra-5102_coding_apl-is-a-mistake-carried-through-to-perf_2258871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e53/edsger-dijkstra-5102_coding_apl-is-a-mistake-carried-through-to-perf_2258871.jpg) > “APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. It is the language of the future for the programming techniques of the past: it creates a new generation of coding bums.” [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. APL, though powerful, is seen as a flawed design that encourages poor coding habits despite its technical merits. **In simple terms:** APL is powerful but leads to bad coding practices. Key Takeaway Choose languages that promote clear, maintainable code. Themes programming language design software engineering technology critique Mood analytical skeptical instructive Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - legacy systems - educational curricula - team projects - code reviews Key Concepts language abstraction software quality developer productivity Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives balance power and readability? - How does language choice affect developer culture? A Different Perspective APL’s niche utility may not outweigh its steep learning curve. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coding/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [New generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-generation/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/apl-is-a-mistake-carried-through-to-perfection/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [“Once out, AI is here to stay, but there are meaningful ways to use AI instead of cheap forgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/once-out-ai-is-here-to-stay-but-there-are-meaningful-ways-to-use-ai/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I wouldn't want everybody to be an art or literature major, but the world would be poorer - figuratively, anyway - if we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-wouldn-t-want-everybody-to-be-an-art-or-literature-major-but-the/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [After all, if you had the complete decision process, you could run it as an AI, and I'd be coding it up right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/after-all-if-you-had-the-complete-decision-process-you-could-run-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“Nothing that happened in the past is anything we can change. And it shouldn’t interfere with the happiness of the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-armstrong/nothing-that-happened-in-the-past-is-anything-we-can-change-and-it/) [Linda Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-armstrong/) > [Whether you draw diagrams that generate code or you type at a browser, you are coding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/whether-you-draw-diagrams-that-generate-code-or-you-type-at-a-browser/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“In this world, you are really limited only by your imagination. And coding ability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-this-world-you-are-really-limited-only-by-your-imagination-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You’re thinking she doesn’t see your outfit, or the color of your shoes. What she does see is You! 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This is unacceptable to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-frankel/for-me-coding-is-a-form-of-self-expression-the-company-controls-the/) Justin Frankel > [“Naskar Constitution of GenAI (Sonnet) At times I'm hard on AI, at times I'm lenient, I have just one law on AI, keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/naskar-constitution-of-genai-sonnet-at-times-i-m-hard-on-ai-at-times/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I believe coding is fundamental to literacy in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/i-believe-coding-is-fundamental-to-literacy-in-the-future/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I think coding is gonna become the blue collar work of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-think-coding-is-gonna-become-the-blue-collar-work-of-the-future/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) ## More by Edsger Dijkstra > [Production speed is severely slowed down if one works with half-time people who have other obligations as well. This is at least a factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/production-speed-is-severely-slowed-down-if-one-works-with-half-time/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The computing scientist's main challenge is not to get confused by the complexities of his own making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-computing-scientist-s-main-challenge-is-not-to-get-confused-by/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Probably I am very naive, but I also think I prefer to remain so, at least for the time being and perhaps for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/probably-i-am-very-naive-but-i-also-think-i-prefer-to-remain-so-at/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In the good old days physicists repeated each other's experiments, just to be sure. Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/don-t-compete-with-me-firstly-i-have-more-experience-and-secondly-i/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/computer-science-is-no-more-about-computers-than-astronomy-is-about/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The use of anthropomorphic terminology forces you linguistically to adopt an operational view. And it makes it practically impossible to argue about programs independently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-use-of-anthropomorphic-terminology-forces-you-linguistically-to/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Teaching to unsuspecting youngsters the effective use of formal methods is one of the joys of life because it is so extremely rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/teaching-to-unsuspecting-youngsters-the-effective-use-of-formal/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-believing-that-i-am-terribly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Brainpower is by far our scarcest resource.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/brainpower-is-by-far-our-scarcest-resource/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Programming in Basic causes brain damage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/programming-in-basic-causes-brain-damage/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Several people have told me that my inability to suffer fools gladly is one of my main weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/several-people-have-told-me-that-my-inability-to-suffer-fools-gladly/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [I now have had my foggy crystal ball for quite a long time. Its predictions are invariably gloomy and usually correct, but I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/i-now-have-had-my-foggy-crystal-ball-for-quite-a-long-time-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [In this respect a program is like a poem: you cannot write a poem without writing it. Yet people talk about programming as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-this-respect-a-program-is-like-a-poem-you-cannot-write-a-poem/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/about-the-use-of-language-it-is-impossible-to-sharpen-a-pencil-with-a/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Explore all 103 Edsger Dijkstra quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) ## More Coding quotes > [I think coding is gonna become the blue collar work of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martellus-bennett/i-think-coding-is-gonna-become-the-blue-collar-work-of-the-future/) [Martellus Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martellus-bennett/) > [ Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about \[the goto statement\]. 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This is unacceptable to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-frankel/for-me-coding-is-a-form-of-self-expression-the-company-controls-the/) Justin Frankel > [“It appears evident that, for the average team, insisting on writing tests first, before functional coding, improves quality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-anderson/it-appears-evident-that-for-the-average-team-insisting-on-writing/) [David J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-j-anderson/) > [“The history of Unix should have prepared us for what we’re learning from Linux (and what I’ve verified experimentally on a smaller scale by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/the-history-of-unix-should-have-prepared-us-for-what-we-re-learning/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) > [“You’re thinking she doesn’t see your outfit, or the color of your shoes. What she does see is You! I think you could stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-armstrong/you-re-thinking-she-doesn-t-see-your-outfit-or-the-color-of-your/) [Linda Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-armstrong/) > [“In this world, you are really limited only by your imagination. And coding ability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-this-world-you-are-really-limited-only-by-your-imagination-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Whether you draw diagrams that generate code or you type at a browser, you are coding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/whether-you-draw-diagrams-that-generate-code-or-you-type-at-a-browser/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) > [“Nothing that happened in the past is anything we can change. And it shouldn’t interfere with the happiness of the present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-armstrong/nothing-that-happened-in-the-past-is-anything-we-can-change-and-it/) [Linda Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-armstrong/) > [After all, if you had the complete decision process, you could run it as an AI, and I'd be coding it up right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/after-all-if-you-had-the-complete-decision-process-you-could-run-it/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [I wouldn't want everybody to be an art or literature major, but the world would be poorer - figuratively, anyway - if we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-wouldn-t-want-everybody-to-be-an-art-or-literature-major-but-the/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [“Once out, AI is here to stay, but there are meaningful ways to use AI instead of cheap forgery.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/once-out-ai-is-here-to-stay-but-there-are-meaningful-ways-to-use-ai/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [All I ever wanted was a bunch of good friends. All I got was a bunch of codes to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bikramjit-sarker/all-i-ever-wanted-was-a-bunch-of-good-friends-all-i-got-was-a-bunch/) [Bikramjit Sarker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bikramjit-sarker/) [Browse all 72 Coding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "APL is a mistake, carried through to perfection. 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