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About this quote

What does it mean?
A language is low level if it forces programmers to manage irrelevant details.
In plain terms
Low level languages make you worry about things that do not matter.
What can you take from it?
Choose languages that hide unnecessary details.

Where it applies

  • language selection
  • system design
  • performance tuning

Putting it to work

  • Use high level abstractions
  • Automate low level tasks

Questions to consider

  • What is an irrelevant detail?
  • How much control is enough?

Another view

Low level control is sometimes necessary for performance or specific hardware needs.

More from Alan Perlis

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  3. We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses.

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