“Low-level programming is good for the programmer's soul.” SoulLevelsComputerLowsProgrammingProgrammersComputer ProgrammingComputer ProgrammersLow Level Author:John Carmack
“Not having a schedule is OK if it's your PhD and you plan to spend 14 years on the thing, or if you're a programmer working on the next Duke Nukem and we'll ship when we're good and ready. But for almost any kind of real business, you just have to know how long things are going to take, because developing a product costs money.” IfsKnowsYearsKindLongRealNextKnow HowPlansReadyProductsCostShipsDevelopingProgrammingSchedulesProgrammersDukesPhds Author:Joel Spolsky
“Something is usable if it behaves exactly as expected.” IfsExpectedBehaveProgramming Author:Joel Spolsky
“The cost of adding a feature isn't just the time it takes to code it. The cost also includes the addition of an obstacle to future expansion. ... The trick is to pick the features that don't fight each other.” FightingCostPicksSimplicityObstaclesTricksCodeFeaturesProgrammingSoftwareExpansionProgrammersComputer ProgrammingSoftware DesignComputer ProgrammersSimplicity In Design Author:John Carmack
“The idea that I can be presented with a problem, set out to logically solve it with the tools at hand, and wind up with a program that could not be legally used because someone else followed the same logical steps some years ago and filed for a patent on it is horrifying.” YearsI CanIdeasProblemHandsUsedStepsWindYears AgoProgramToolsSolveProgrammingLogicalPatents Author:John Carmack
“The power efficiency of computing has improved by a factor of a billion from the ENIAC computer of the 1950s to today's handheld devices. Fundamental physics indicates that it should be possible to compute even another billion times more efficiently. That would put the power of all of today's present computers in the palm of your hand. That says to me that the age of computing really hasn't even begun yet.” ShouldHandsAgeTodayComputerFundamentalsPhysicsBillionsFactorsProgrammingDevicesEfficiencyPalmsComputing Author:R. Stanley Williams
“We just have to come in every morning and somehow, launch the editor.” MorningProgrammingEditorsEvery Morning Author:Joel Spolsky
“What is a decision? It's a tool to remove confusion! Are you confused? If so, then make the decision and let's move on!” IfsMovingDecisionToolsConfusionConfusedProgrammingRemove Author:Brian Valentine
“Writing code is not production, it's not always craftsmanship though it can be, it's design.” WritingDesignProductionsCodeProgrammingCraftsmanshipWriting Code Author:Joel Spolsky