The purpose of abstracting is not to be vague, but to create a new semantic level in which one can be absolutely precise. - Edsger W. Dijkstra

As a result of a long sequence of coincidences I entered the programming profession officially on the first spring morning of 1952, and as far as I have been able to trace, I was the first Dutchman to do so in my country.

By claiming that they can contribute to software engineering, the soft scientists make themselves even more ridiculous. (Not less dangerous, alas!) In spite of its name, software engineering requires (cruelly) hard science for its support.

Program testing can be a very effective way to show the presence of bugs, but it is hopelessly inadequate for showing their absence.