Complaining Quote by Raymond Simard
“GOTO, n.: A programming tool that exists to allow structured programmers to complain about unstructured programmers.”
About This Quote
Source Article: The Pragmatic Programmer, 1999
A tongue‑in‑cheek critique of programmers who favor unstructured code while claiming to be structured.
In simple terms: Criticizes hypocrisy in programming styles.
Key Takeaway
Beware of double standards in coding.
Themes
programming
critique
culture
ethics
Mood
ironic
critical
Type
satirical
observational
When to use this quote
- code reviews
- team meetings
- training sessions
- hiring decisions
Key Concepts
software engineering
programmer identity
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance structure and flexibility?
- When does criticism become unproductive?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex design debates.
![“Please don't fall into the trap of believing that I am terribly dogmatical about [the goto statement]. I have the uncomfortable feeling that others are making a religion out of it, as if the conceptual problems of programming could be solved by a single trick, by a simple form of coding discipline!” quote by Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ad/edsger-dijkstra-5102_believe_please-don-t-fall-into-the-trap-of-belie_167695.jpg)
