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Nicholas’ First Law of Computing

Computers are designed to do sums. They can do sums very, very fast. Some can even do more than one sum at the same time, provided you know how to ask nicely and want to do particular types of sums. Computers are just the right tool if you would like to do lots of sums one after another, and are at their very best if you would like to do the same sum over and over again. Most of the other things they appear to be able to do are illusions. Everything else is a hack.

One Comment

  1. wibblefoo wrote:

    Jackson’s Corollory to NFLoC

    Everything beyond a bit shift is a hack.

    Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 7:39 pm | Permalink