You can measure a programmer's perspective by noting his attitude on the continuing vitality of FORTRAN.
The quote highlights the enduring relevance of FORTRAN, a programming language developed in the 1950s, despite the rapid evolution of computer technology. This perspective reflects Perlis' wry humor and his ability to poke fun at the programming community.
The quote emphasizes the importance of perspective in evaluating the value of programming languages. It suggests that even outdated technologies can still be relevant and useful in certain contexts.
The quote was written in the 1980s, a time when the programming community was grappling with the rise of new languages like C and Pascal. FORTRAN was still widely used in scientific and engineering applications, but its popularity was beginning to wane.
Alan Perlis was a renowned computer scientist and educator who made significant contributions to the development of programming languages. He was known for his wit and his ability to communicate complex technical concepts in an engaging and accessible way.
The quote can be seen as a reminder to programmers to be open-minded and not dismissive of older technologies. It also highlights the importance of understanding the context in which a technology was developed.