In fact what I would like to see is thousands of computer scientists let loose to do whatever they want. That's what really advances the field.

I currently use Ubuntu Linux, on a standalone laptop - it has no Internet connection. I occasionally carry flash memory drives between this machine and the Macs that I use for network surfing and graphics; but I trust my family jewels only to Linux.

Any inaccuracies in this index may be explained by the fact that it has been prepared with the help of a computer.

We should forget about small efficiencies, say about 97% of the time: premature optimization is the root of all evil.

When you write a program, think of it primarily as a work of literature. You're trying to write something that human beings are going to read. Don't think of it primarily as something a computer is going to follow. The more effective you are at making your program readable, the more effective it's going to be: You'll understand it today, you'll understand it next week, and your successors who are going to maintain and modify it will understand it.

Programming is the art of telling another human being what one wants the computer to do.

The best practice is inspired by theory.