Edsger W. Dijkstra
A Dutch computer scientist and Turing Award laureate, known for the shortest-path algorithm bearing his name, contributions to structured programming theory, and foundational insights into the discipline of computer science.
Timeline (last 90 days)
Edsger W. Dijkstra wrote a short piece titled "On the foolishness of 'natural language programming'" in 1978, numbered EWD667.
The core argument of EWD667 is that natural language is vague, ambiguous and context-dependent, whereas programs require precise, unambiguous, mechanically executable instructions, so treating natural language as a programming language is a misunderstanding of the nature of programming.
What Dijkstra opposed was using natural language itself as a programming language, not describing requirements in natural language.
The EWD numbering is a numbering system Dijkstra used for his technical notes starting in the 1960s, totaling more than 1,300 pieces.
All Facts (4)
Edsger W. Dijkstra wrote a short piece titled "On the foolishness of 'natural language programming'" in 1978, numbered EWD667.
50%UnverifiedThe core argument of EWD667 is that natural language is vague, ambiguous and context-dependent, whereas programs require precise, unambiguous, mechanically executable instructions, so treating natural language as a programming language is a misunderstanding of the nature of programming.
50%UnverifiedWhat Dijkstra opposed was using natural language itself as a programming language, not describing requirements in natural language.
50%UnverifiedThe EWD numbering is a numbering system Dijkstra used for his technical notes starting in the 1960s, totaling more than 1,300 pieces.
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