Alan Perlis Quotes

(Technology reliability) x (Human reliability) = (System reliability)

Failure is central to engineering. Every single calculation that an engineer makes is a failure calculation. Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail.

Successful engineering is all about understanding how things break or fail.

Unfortunately, the more complex the system, the greater the room for error.

Engineering is achieving function while avoiding failure.

As a rule, software systems do not work well until they have been used, and have failed repeatedly, in real applications.

We call the fates of the Titanic and the Concordia - as well as those of the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia - 'accidents.' Foreseeing such undesirable events is what engineers are expected to do. However, design trade-offs leave technological systems open to failings once predicted, but later forgotten.

Investment in reliability will increase until it exceeds the probable cause of errors, or until someone insists on getting some useful work done.

If you don't handle [exceptions], we shut your application down. That dramatically increases the reliability of the system.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor e'er shall be, In every work regard the writer's end, Since none can compass more than they intend; And if the means be just, the conduct true, Applause, in spite of trivial faults, is due.

But accuracy means something to me. It's vital to my sense of values. I've learned not to trust people who are inaccurate. Every aviator knows that if mechanics are inaccurate. aircraft crash.

There is no finish line when it comes to system reliability and availability, and our efforts to improve performance never cease.

I have a lot to say about Mrs. [Hillary] Clinton that has not been said by others recently and that I think needs to be said. I mean I've known her for 40 years. I worked with her, I know her well professionally. I know her well personally. I know her to be a person of high moral character. A reliable person and an honest person, however Mr. [Donald] Trump may rant and rave to the contrary. So I'm happy to say that. People can make their own choices.

I put my children first, but I always keep my obligations or my commitments. You really have to do some internal work to know yourself, know what you're capable of. See how many meetings you can take a day or how much work you can get through in a day. Give it lots of proper time and respect, but also give yourself the respect of having your downtime, whether that means yoga, pilates, a meditation class, or a cooking class.

When we make a pledge, we mean it. We keep our word, and what we begin, we will finish.

Be real. Try to do what you say, say what you mean, and be what you seem.

It is commonly the case with technologies that you can get the best insight about how they work by watching them fail.

'Fault' means failure to meet a standard. Whose? Mine.

I've been saying, even against me, the system is rigged. When I ran as a - well, for president, I could see what was going on with the system, and the system is rigged. What I'm saying is they're not necessarily wrong. I mean, there are certainly people where unfortunately that comes into play. And I'm not saying that, I can really relate it very much to myself.

The thing is, allies is people who are friends, people you can rely on in the struggle. You're not always going to agree with your allies. For instance, Stevie Wonder I feel like is my ally when it comes to this Florida situation, but I don't agree with his strategy. That doesn't mean he isn't an ally.

The important thing about security systems isn’t how they work, it’s how they fail.

If the world breaks a million and one promises, can you trust the million and second?

With both people and computers on the job, computer error can be more quickly tracked down and corrected by people and, conversely, human error can be more quickly corrected by computers. What it amounts to is that nothing serious can happen unless human error and computer error take place simultaneously. And that hardly ever happens.

Parliamentarianism means putting political prostitution in barracks.

I'm also honored to be here with the speaker of the House - just happens to be from the state of Illinois. I'd like to describe the speaker as a trustworthy man. He's the kind of fellow who says when he gives you his word he means it. Sometimes that doesn't happen all the time in the political process.