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Larry Wall

Larry Wall Quotes

Programmer

Larry Wall, born on September 27, 1954, is a renowned programmer. He is best known for inventing the Perl programming language, which has gained widespread popularity for its powerful text processing capabilities. Wall's contributions to the field of programming extend beyond Perl, as he has also been involved in numerous open-source projects, significantly impacting the programming community.

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Famous Larry Wall Quotes

“Perl programming is an *empirical* science!”

Programming Perl

Author:Larry Wall

“Computer programming is really a lot like writing a recipe. If you've read a recipe, you know what the structure of a recipe is, it's got some things up at the top that are your ingredients, and below that, the directions for how to deal with those ingredients.”

Ifs Knows Writing Deals Computer Structure Programming Ingredients Recipes Computer Programming

Author:Larry Wall

“When they first built the University of California at Irvine they just put the buildings in. They did not put any sidewalks, they just planted grass. The next year, they came back and put the sidewalks where the trails were in the grass. Perl is just that kind of language. It is not designed from first principles. Perl is those sidewalks in the grass.”

Years Firsts Kind Next Language Principles Building Built University California Grass Programming Trails Next Year Sidewalk Computer Language Perl

Author:Larry Wall

“Computer language design is just like a stroll in the park. Jurassic Park, that is.”

Language Technology Design Computer Parks Programming Computer Programming Computer Language Jurassic Park Funny Computer Coders

Author:Larry Wall

“Most of you are familiar with the virtues of a programmer. There are three, of course: laziness, impatience, and hubris.”

“It is easier to port a shell than a shell script.”

Easier Scripts Programming Shells Port Computer Programming Programming Languages Computer Language

Author:Larry Wall

“A Perl program is correct if it gets the job done before your boss fires you.”

Ifs Done Jobs Language Fire Program Programming Boss Programming Languages Software Engineering Get The Job Done Perl

Book:Programming Perl: Unmatched Power for Text Processing and Scripting

Source: Programming Perl: Unmatched Power for Text Processing and Scripting

“The camel has evolved to be relatively self-sufficient. On the other hand, the camel has not evolved to smell good. Neither has Perl.”

Self Hands Language Smell Sufficient Programming Programming Languages Camels Self Sufficient Software Engineering Perl

Book:Programming Perl: 3rd Edition

Source: Programming Perl: 3rd Edition

“We all agree on the necessity of compromise. We just can't agree on when it's necessary to compromise.”

Agree Compromise Programming Gaming Playing Games Software Engineering

Author:Larry Wall

“Though I'll admit readability suffers slightly.”

Suffering Programming

Author:Larry Wall

“I think it's a new feature. Don't tell anyone it was an accident.”

Thinking Computer Accidents Features Programming Requirements Testing Software Engineering Computer Software

Author:Larry Wall

“Many computer scientists have fallen into the trap of trying to define languages like George Orwell's Newspeak, in which it is impossible to think bad thoughts. What they end up doing is killing the creativity of programming.”

Thinking Trying Ends Language Creativity Impossible Computer Scientist Killing Fallen Programming Traps Bad Thoughts

Author:Larry Wall

About the Author

Born: September 27, 1954
Known for: Programmer
Quotes: 218

Related Topics

Computer Perl Thinking Language Ifs People Want Knows Programming Should Way Computer Language Trying Wells Programmers Use Writing Littles World Code

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Books & Sources

Programming Perl: 3rd EditionRelated source material

Programming Perl: Unmatched Power for Text Processing and ScriptingRelated source material

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