--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most amazing achievement of the…" description: "\"The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady and staggering gains made by the computer h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png" --- # The most amazing achievement of the computer software… ![“The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady and staggering gains made by the computer hardware industry.” quote by Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png) > “The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady and staggering gains made by the computer hardware industry.” [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Software advances often outpace hardware, making hardware gains seem stagnant. **In simple terms:** Software outpaces hardware. Key Takeaway Recognize software’s role in progress. Themes technology economics innovation Mood analytical critical Type observational explanatory When to use this quote - tech startups - product development - IT budgeting Key Concepts Moore’s law software abstraction hardware limits Questions to Reflect On - Can software compensate for hardware limits? - How does hardware lag affect innovation? A Different Perspective Hardware improvements still essential for performance ceilings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Cancellation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cancellation/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Computer programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programmers/) [Computer programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer-programming/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Funny computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-computer/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Programmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programmers/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Programming funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming-funny/) [Programming languages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming-languages/) [Software](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/software/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [The whole hardware industry has experienced the phenomenon in which every time computers get cheaper, they appeal to a new set of users; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/the-whole-hardware-industry-has-experienced-the-phenomenon-in-which/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [But I am committed to keeping this city a strong and viable center for commerce and industry, for continuing to make it a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-byrne/but-i-am-committed-to-keeping-this-city-a-strong-and-viable-center/) [Jane Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-byrne/) > [I think that in itself is kind of an amazing achievement to be able to say that your full-time career is in any creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-paquin/i-think-that-in-itself-is-kind-of-an-amazing-achievement-to-be-able/) [Anna Paquin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-paquin/) > [In one way, we think it's kind of an amazing achievement what we've done. At the same time, we'd like 6 million more people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/in-one-way-we-think-it-s-kind-of-an-amazing-achievement-what-we-ve/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) > [It's an amazing achievement to win a National Business Award and it recognises all of the hard work and determination of the team of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/it-s-an-amazing-achievement-to-win-a-national-business-award-and-it/) [Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/) > [I would rate my TV football skills as an amazing achievement by the editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/i-would-rate-my-tv-football-skills-as-an-amazing-achievement-by-the/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [I think the fact that I made enough noise in the world that I might be remembered is an amazing achievement. You can't ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-the-fact-that-i-made-enough-noise-in-the-world-that-i-might/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [When I was at Tek, I was frustrated that computer hardware was being improved faster than computer software. I wanted to invent some software…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/when-i-was-at-tek-i-was-frustrated-that-computer-hardware-was-being/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“My first impulse, when presented with any spanking-new piece of computer hardware, is to imagine how it will look in ten years’ time, gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/my-first-impulse-when-presented-with-any-spanking-new-piece-of/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [One would expect that a surge of new automation opportunities in highly paid work would catalyze a surge of corporate investment in computer hardware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-autor/one-would-expect-that-a-surge-of-new-automation-opportunities-in/) [David Autor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-autor/) > [The difference between the best worker on computer hardware and the average may be 2 to 1, if you're lucky. With automobiles, maybe 2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-difference-between-the-best-worker-on-computer-hardware-and-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [I always find myself stopping to write down ideas of things I'd like to make from computer hardware items to things new moms need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-always-find-myself-stopping-to-write-down-ideas-of-things-i-d-like/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [“The oldest computer hardware I worked on was in professional astronomy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-oldest-computer-hardware-i-worked-on-was-in-professional-astronomy/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Software-industry battles are fought by highly paid and out-of-shape nerds furiously pounding computer keyboards while they guzzle diet Coke. The stakes aren't very dramatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/software-industry-battles-are-fought-by-highly-paid-and-out-of-shape/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [“In a future that includes competition from open source, we can expect that the eventual destiny of any software technology will be to either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-s-raymond/in-a-future-that-includes-competition-from-open-source-we-can-expect/) [Eric S. Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-s-raymond/) ## More by Henry Petroski > [All conventional wisdom has an element of truth to it, but good design requires more than an element of truth - it requires an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/all-conventional-wisdom-has-an-element-of-truth-to-it-but-good-design/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [It is really want, rather than need, that drives the process of technological evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/it-is-really-want-rather-than-need-that-drives-the-process-of/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [A failed structure provides a counterexample to a hypothesis and shows us incontrovertibly what cannot be done, while a structure that stands without incident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/a-failed-structure-provides-a-counterexample-to-a-hypothesis-and/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Everything we do is designed, whether we're producing a magazine, a website, or a bridge. Design is really the creative invention that designs everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/everything-we-do-is-designed-whether-we-re-producing-a-magazine-a/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [I employ case studies of failure into my courses, emphasizing that they teach us much more than studies of success. It is not that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/i-employ-case-studies-of-failure-into-my-courses-emphasizing-that/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [ Whether or not science can be applied to that mental construct \[i.e. the designed entity\] is a matter of availability. If there is body… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/whether-or-not-science-can-be-applied-to-that-mental-construct-i-e/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Failures are much more dramatic than successes, and people like drama. I think this is why automobile races draw such crowds. People expect spectacular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/failures-are-much-more-dramatic-than-successes-and-people-like-drama/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by things large and small. I wanted to know what made my watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-have-been-fascinated-by-things-large/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/successful-engineering-is-all-about-understanding-how-things-break-or/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [The space shuttle was designed, at least in part, to broaden our knowledge of the universe. To scientists, the vehicle was a tool; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/the-space-shuttle-was-designed-at-least-in-part-to-broaden-our/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Because they are so humbled by their creations, engineers are naturally conservative in their expectations of technology. They know that the perfect system is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/because-they-are-so-humbled-by-their-creations-engineers-are/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Engineering is achieving function while avoiding failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/engineering-is-achieving-function-while-avoiding-failure/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [An over-reliance on past successes is a sure blueprint for future failures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/an-over-reliance-on-past-successes-is-a-sure-blueprint-for-future/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [I was always told that I was good in mathematics, and I guess my grades and standardized test scores supported that. My worst subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/i-was-always-told-that-i-was-good-in-mathematics-and-i-guess-my/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [If I could go upstairs and write every day, I would be happy. I don't need recreation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/if-i-could-go-upstairs-and-write-every-day-i-would-be-happy-i-don-t/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) [Explore all 67 Henry Petroski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) ## More Achievement quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/) [Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/) > [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/) Chaz Brenchley > [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/) [David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/) > [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/) [Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/) > [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/) [Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/) > [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/) [Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/) Nicholas Roerich > [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/) [Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/) [Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady and staggering gains made by the computer hardware industry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Petroski" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-computer-software-industry-is-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achievement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-computer-software-industry-is-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29a/henry-petroski-10198_achievement_the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-comp_543783.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most amazing achievement of the computer software industry is its continuing cancellation of the steady…” — Henry Petroski", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Petroski", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most amazing achievement of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-computer-software-industry-is-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/the-most-amazing-achievement-of-the-computer-software-industry-is-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```