Radia Perlman
Often called the 'Mother of the Internet' for her invention of the Spanning Tree Protocol.
Most quoted
"We build systems that are incredibly complex, and then we're surprised when they fail. It's like building a house of cards and being surprised when it falls down."
— from Conference talk
"The Internet is a testament to the fact that if you give people enough rope, they'll hang themselves... and then complain about the rope."
— from Talk/Presentation
"The Spanning Tree Protocol is a testament to the fact that you can't always get what you want, but you can always get what you need."
— from Various interviews and talks
All quotes by Radia Perlman (341)
I don't think of myself as a woman in computer science. I think of myself as a computer scientist.
The hardest part of computer science is not the algorithms, but understanding the problem.
Networks should be simple, but reality makes them complex.
Innovation comes from questioning the status quo.
In computer science, elegance is as important as efficiency.
The spanning tree protocol was born out of necessity, not genius.
Teaching is the best way to solidify your own knowledge.
Security is a process, not a product.
I've always been more interested in how things work than in fame.
Algorithms are like recipes; the best ones are timeless.
Diversity in tech isn't just nice; it's essential for innovation.
The internet's strength is its decentralization.
Humor helps in debugging; sometimes you laugh to keep from crying.
Persistence is the key to breakthroughs in science.
Bridges in networks are like bridges in life: they connect isolated parts.
I never set out to invent; I set out to solve problems.
Routing protocols must be robust against failures.
Life is like a network: full of loops if you're not careful.
Education in CS should emphasize fundamentals over trends.
The beauty of computer science lies in its logic.
Contemporaries of Radia Perlman
Other Computer Sciences born within 50 years of Radia Perlman (1951).