Achievement Quote by Hal Abelson
“Applicants must also have extensive knowledge of Unix, although they should have sufficiently good programming taste to not consider this an achievement.”
About This Quote
Source Book: SICP, Computer Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach, 1985
Technical expertise is valued, but genuine programming judgment matters more than formal achievements.
In simple terms: Skill matters more than accolades.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize good judgment over résumé fluff.
Themes
programming
career
judgment
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
advice
professional
When to use this quote
- job interviews
- team hiring
- project assignments
Key Concepts
software engineering
culture
expertise
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess programming taste?
- What signals indicate genuine skill?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on specific tech can overlook broader abilities.
![“[Computer science] is not really about computers and it's not about computers in the same sense that physics is not really about particle accelerators, and biology is not about microscopes and Petri dishes... and geometry isn't really about using surveying instruments.” quote by Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/232/hal-abelson-36322_biology_computer-science-is-not-really-about-com_2130397.jpg)
