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Computers Quote by Niklaus Wirth

“Software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster. (Or, sometimes known by] Grove [the head of Intel] giveth and Gates [the head of Microsoft] taketh away.)” quote by Niklaus Wirth
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“Software gets slower faster than hardware gets faster. (Or, sometimes known by] Grove [the head of Intel] giveth and Gates [the head of Microsoft] taketh away.)”

Niklaus Wirth

About This Quote

Software performance improvements lag behind hardware advances, causing overall system speed to decline despite faster chips.

In simple terms: Software lags hardware gains.

Key Takeaway

Hardware outpaces software optimization.

Themes

technology productivity efficiency innovation systems

Mood

frustration anticipation cautious optimism

Type

observation maxim analogy

When to use this quote

  • legacy system maintenance
  • high‑frequency trading platforms
  • real‑time data processing
  • embedded device firmware

Key Concepts

software development hardware evolution performance bottlenecks

Practical Applications

  • optimizing code paths
  • leveraging hardware‑specific instructions

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can developers keep pace with hardware trends?
  • What strategies mitigate software‑induced slowdown?
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