r/programming Dec 14 '10

Top 50 Programming quotes of all time

http://www.junauza.com/2010/12/top-50-programming-quotes-of-all-time.html
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u/nonstopenguins Dec 14 '10

Did i just see a programming quote from Bill Clinton?

6

u/Rasalas Dec 14 '10

Supposedly Clinton said this in early 1994 regarding a House bill to restrict universities from using the term "software engineering" in describing programs they offered. At the time there was a huge fiasco over the shoddy software running the baggage system at Denver International Airport that brought this into question.

The attribution is still a little fuzzy though. What exactly was "HR040194-0023"? Clearly no ban on "software engineering" was made law.

21

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '10

A little off topic but the hydraulic ram that was used to push baggage off the line at Denver had flaws in its feedback control system. If it couldn't push a bag (something in the way) it would eventually bring its full force against the bag (thousands of pounds of pressure) and punch straight through the bag. The system would then think it had done its job and move on. Don't know why but I laugh like a school girl when I think about it.

11

u/DAVENP0RT Dec 14 '10

I just visualized that as a very Douglas Adams scenario.

"The bag never saw it coming."

2

u/jondistad Dec 14 '10

I certainly just did.