How do we tell truths that might hurt? (E. Dijkstra, 1975)
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2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
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HN comment order> How do we tell truths that might hurt? Well, if you are attempting to influence someone like me, not like this. I think Dijkstra's great reputation and 37 years of experience with programming are basically enough for anyone reading this today to take all of his statements as basically true; but if someone published a similar list dissing all your favorite programming languages... well, we've all witnessed internet flame wars. The basic problem here is that the list is…
Personally, I've always thought this letter was the plainest proof that Dijkstra's pithy quotes (and those that parrot them) should not be taken seriously, no matter how entertaining they are. That list covers most the major languages of the day; what he would have to say about $(YOUR_FAVORITE_LANGUAGE) would surely be equally unkind were he alive today. That isn't to say that he did not have valid reasoning for his dislikes as a language expert and a mathematician but those…
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 2
- Total points
- 137
- Total comments
- 140
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-04-02 | E.W Dijkstra Archive | yesraaj | 8 | 0 |
| 2012-12-15 | How do we tell truths that might hurt? (E. Dijkstra, 1975)First breakout · Best thread | Luyt | 66 | 67 |
| 2019-06-27 | How do we tell truths that might hurt? (EWD498) | tosh | 1 | 0 |
| 2020-10-14 | How do we tell truths that might hurt? (1975)Latest 20+ point return | giocampa | 60 | 73 |
| 2023-07-31 | How do we tell truths that might hurt? (1975) | Jtsummers | 2 | 0 |