--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we wish to count lines of code, we…" description: "\"If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as 'lines produced' but as 'lines spent.'\" — Edsger Dijkstra" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/edsger-dijkstra-5102_code_if-we-wish-to-count-lines-of-code-we-sho_1004467.png" --- # If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard… ![“If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as 'lines produced' but as 'lines spent.'” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/edsger-dijkstra-5102_code_if-we-wish-to-count-lines-of-code-we-sho_1004467.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/edsger-dijkstra-5102_code_if-we-wish-to-count-lines-of-code-we-sho_1004467.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adc/edsger-dijkstra-5102_code_if-we-wish-to-count-lines-of-code-we-sho_1004467.png) > “If we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as 'lines produced' but as 'lines spent.'” [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. Code should be measured by effort spent, not just lines produced, emphasizing quality over quantity. **In simple terms:** Measure effort, not lines. Key Takeaway Focus on effortful, quality code. Themes productivity quality software engineering Mood analytical thoughtful Type technical philosophical When to use this quote - project planning - code reviews - software estimation - team management Key Concepts algorithmic thinking efficiency Questions to Reflect On - How to assess coding effort fairly? - What metrics capture quality beyond line count? A Different Perspective Hard to quantify effort precisely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programming/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“My point today is that, if we wish to count lines of code, we should not regard them as "lines produced" but as "lines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dijkstra/my-point-today-is-that-if-we-wish-to-count-lines-of-code-we-should/) Dijkstra > [Simply put, when you have very large pieces of software, most of the tools look at the individual lines of code as text. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gosling/simply-put-when-you-have-very-large-pieces-of-software-most-of-the/) [James Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gosling/) > [I've never been someone to count lines, look at it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-ve-never-been-someone-to-count-lines-look-at-it-that-way/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [Some actors count their lines as soon as they receive a script. I'm the opposite. I try to see how many lines I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ford/some-actors-count-their-lines-as-soon-as-they-receive-a-script-i-m/) [Glenn Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ford/) > [The tools we use have a profound and devious influence on our thinking habits, and therefore on our thinking abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-tools-we-use-have-a-profound-and-devious-influence-on-our/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Simplicity and elegance are unpopular because they require hard work and discipline to achieve and education to be appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/simplicity-and-elegance-are-unpopular-because-they-require-hard-work/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [A most important, but also most elusive, aspect of any tool is its influence on the habits of those who train themselves in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/a-most-important-but-also-most-elusive-aspect-of-any-tool-is-its/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [The purpose of abstraction is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/the-purpose-of-abstraction-is-not-to-be-vague-but-to-create-a-new/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [A programming language is a tool that has profound influence on our thinking habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/a-programming-language-is-a-tool-that-has-profound-influence-on-our/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) > [Beauty is more important in computing than anywhere else in technology because software is so complicated. 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Pattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-e-pattis/) > [“In programming the World Wide Computer, we will be programming our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-carr/in-programming-the-world-wide-computer-we-will-be-programming-our/) [Nicholas Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-carr/) ## 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 Code quotes > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. 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It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/) [Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/) > [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. 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