The Pragmatic Programmer Quotes

“While software development is immune from almost all physical laws, entropy hits us hard.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“If there was a risk that the vendor wouldn't come through for you, then you should have had a contingency plan.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Don't blame someone or something else, or make up an excuse. Don't blame all the problems on a vendor, a programming language, management, or your coworkers.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“When you do accept the responsibility for an outcome, you should expect to be held accountable for it. When you make a mistake (as we all do) or an error in judgment, admit it honestly and try to offer options.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“In addition to doing your own personal best, you must analyze the situation for risks that are beyond your control.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Responsibility is something you actively agree to. You make a commitment to ensure that something is done right, but you don't necessarily have direct control over every aspect of it.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Despite thorough testing, good documentation, and solid automation, things go wrong. Deliveries are late. Unforeseen technical problems come up.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“The greatest of all weaknesses is the fear of appearing weak. • J. B. Bossuet, Politics from Holy Writ, 1709”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Learning is a continuous and ongoing process.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Over the years, you'll be amazed at how your experience has blossomed and your skills have grown.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Never run on auto-pilot. Constantly be thinking, critiquing your work in real time.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“There can only be systems that are more appropriate in a particular set of circumstances.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“There is no such thing as a best solution, be it a tool, a language, or an operating system.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Even if there's a fire raging (deadline, release date, trade show demo, etc.), you don't want to be the first one to make a mess.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“There is no such thing as a best solution, be it a tool, a language, or an operating system. There can only be systems that are more appropriate in a particular set of circumstances.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“If it isn't easy, people won't do it.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“If you were in a piña colada-making contest, these optimizations may make all the difference.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer

“Don't let entropy win.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“Developers who don't actively think about their code are programming by coincidence—the code might work, but there's no particular reason why.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“If it's easy to reuse, people will. Create an environment that supports reuse.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“Well, software doesn't quite work that way. Rather than construction, software is more like gardening—it is more organic than concrete. You plant many things in a garden according to an initial plan and conditions. Some thrive, others are destined to end up as compost.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“In 1897, Indiana State Legislature House Bill No. 246 attempted to decree that henceforth π should have the value of "3". The Bill was tabled indefinitely at its second reading when a mathematics professor pointed out that their powers did not quite extend to passing laws of nature.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“EVERY PIECE OF KNOWLEDGE MUST HAVE A SINGLE, UNAMBIGUOUS, AUTHORITATIVE REPRESENTATION WITHIN A SYSTEM.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“There are no easy answers. There is no such thing as a best solution, be it a tool, a language, or an operating system. There can only be systems that are more appropriate in a particular set of circumstances.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“You work small miracles every day.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“Tip 2 Think! About Your Work”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“Tip 1 Care About Your Craft We feel that there is no point in developing software unless you care about doing it well.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea if it's the only one you have. • Emil-Auguste Chartier, Propos sur la religion, 1938”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“When we perform maintenance, we have to find and change the representations of things—those capsules of knowledge embedded in the application. The problem is that it's easy to duplicate knowledge in the specifications, processes, and programs that we develop, and when we do so, we invite a maintenance nightmare—one that starts well before the application ships.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

“There are certain tips and tricks that apply at all levels of software development, ideas that are almost axiomatic, and processes that are virtually universal. However, these approaches are rarely documented as such; you'll mostly find them written down as odd sentences in discussions of design, project management, or coding.”
― Andrew Hunt, The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master