Coders Quote by Maurice Wilkes
“As soon as we started programming, we found to our surprise that it wasn't as easy to get programs right as we had thought. Debugging had to be discovered. I can remember the exact instant when I realized that a large part of my life from then on was going to be spent in finding mistakes in my own programs.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Early computing conference, 1950s
Programming is harder than expected; systematic error finding (debugging) became a lifelong skill.
In simple terms: Programming reveals many hidden mistakes.
Key Takeaway
Embrace debugging as essential.
Themes
technology
learning
problem solving
Mood
analytical
determined
Type
technical
motivational
When to use this quote
- software development
- education
- career planning
Key Concepts
software engineering
debugging practices
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies improve debugging efficiency?
- How can you teach debugging to beginners?
A Different Perspective
Debugging can be time‑consuming and frustrating.
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![“Much of the early engineering development of digital computers was done in universities. A few years ago, the view was commonly expressed that universities had played their part in computer design, and that the matter could now safely be left to industry. [...] Apart from the obvious functions of…” quote by Maurice Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cd0/maurice-wilkes-46458_computer_much-of-the-early-engineering-developmen_2930501.jpg)
