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Data Quote by Ken Thompson

“I wanted to separate data from programs, because data and instructions are very different.” quote by Ken Thompson
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“I wanted to separate data from programs, because data and instructions are very different.”

Ken Thompson

About This Quote

Source Essay: The UNIX Philosophy, 1974

Separating data from code treats them as distinct entities, improving flexibility and security.

In simple terms: Data and code should be kept separate.

Key Takeaway

Design systems that isolate data and logic.

Themes

software design modularity security

Mood

analytical pragmatic

Type

technical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • database design
  • operating systems
  • application development
  • security architecture

Key Concepts

abstraction information theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does separation affect maintainability?
  • What risks arise when they are mixed?
A Different Perspective

Hard to enforce in legacy systems.

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