Thirty Years of Lisp
In my life as an architect, I find that the single thing which inhibits young professionals,
new students most severely, is their acceptance of standards that are too low.
--Christopher Alexandria [Gabriel, "Patterns of Software"]
What is the Chartres of programming (1194 to 1260)? What task is a high enough level
to inspire people writing programs, to reach for the stars? Can you write a computer
program on the same level as Fermat's last theorem? Can you write a program which
has the enabling power of Dr. Johnson's dictionary? Can you write a program which
has the productive power of Watt's steam engine?
--Christopher Alexandria [Gabriel, "Patterns of Software"]
I would add to that the single most damaging practice in the industry
is the acceptance of time standards that are too short.