James Gosling

Computer Science Canadian 1955 361 quotes

Often credited as the father of the Java programming language.

Most quoted

"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as you can, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it."

— from Commonly attributed/quoted by him

"The problem with C++ is that it's too easy to shoot yourself in the foot. Java is much harder to shoot yourself in the foot with, but when you do, you blow your whole leg off."

— from Interview/Presentation, 1996

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

— from often attributed to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but Gosling has used it in context of software development

All quotes by James Gosling (361)

The most important thing in a team is trust.

various interviews

I'm not a fan of 'analysis paralysis.' I prefer 'getting things done.'

various interviews

The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.

various interviews

I'm not a fan of 'reinventing the square wheel.' I prefer 'using the round one.'

various interviews

The problem with the world is that everyone is a few drinks behind.

Unknown

I'm not a philosopher, I'm a programmer. I build things.

Interview

I don't believe in magic. I believe in hard work and good design.

Interview

The future is not something we enter. The future is something we create.

Attributed

The most important thing is to keep learning, keep challenging yourself, and keep having fun.

Interview

I'm just a guy who likes to build stuff.

Interview

The journey is the reward.

Attributed

Don't be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.

Attributed

Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.

Attributed

The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.

Attributed

Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans.

Attributed

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Attributed

The mind is everything. What you think you become.

Attributed

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

Attributed

The unexamined life is not worth living.

Attributed

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Attributed