Cobol Quote by Tom Van Vleck
“Real programmers don't write in PL/I. PL/I is for programmers who can't decide whether to write in COBOL or FORTRAN.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Programming Humor, 1998
Real programmers avoid PL/I, a language for indecisive coders torn between COBOL and FORTRAN.
In simple terms: Avoid PL/I; it reflects indecision.
Key Takeaway
Choose a clear, focused programming language.
Themes
programming culture
language choice
clarity
Mood
humorous
critical
Type
technical
satirical
When to use this quote
- selecting a language for a project
- training new developers
- refactoring old code
Key Concepts
software engineering
decision making
legacy systems
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do some teams cling to ambiguous tools?
- What benefits can diverse language knowledge bring?
A Different Perspective
PL/I may still be useful in niche legacy systems.
