Andrew S. Tanenbaum Quotes

• Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full of tapes hurtling down the highway.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Tape, Wagons, Geek

  "Computer Networks". Book by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 1981.

  20 Copy quote

• If anyone had realized that within 10 years this tiny system that was picked up almost by accident was going to be controlling 50 million computers, considerably more thought might have gone into it.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Years, Gone, Might

  26 Copy quote

• The only way to make software secure, reliable, and fast is to make it small.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Fighting, Way, Software

  "Some Notes on the 'Who Wrote Linux' Kerfuffle, Release 1.5". www.cs.vu.nl. May 20, 2004.

  11 Copy quote

• XML combines the efficiency of text files with the readability of binary files

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Efficiency, Binary, Files

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• I have a mouse, but don't have a mouse driver for MINIX and have never felt the need to write one. Typing "rm x y z" is a lot faster than clicking five times and then having to convince the system that you really, truly, mean it and this is not a mistake and that you are consenting adult over 18 and that you completely understand the consequences and you still want to do it.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Mistake, Writing, Mean

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• I can type faster than I can point. And my mother told me that pointing
  is impolite.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Mother, Type, Faster

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• A refund for defective software might be nice, except it would bankrupt the entire software industry in the first year.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Nice, Years, Might

  "Computer Networks". Book by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 1981.

  8 Copy quote

• Sequential programming is really hard, and parallel programming is a step beyond that.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Steps, Programming, Parallels

  9 Copy quote

• Unfortunately, the current generation of mail programs do not have checkers to see if the sender knows what he is talking about.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Talking, Generations, Mail

  15 Copy quote

• However, as every parent of a small child knows, converting a large object into small fragments is considerably easier than the reverse process.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Children, Parent, Easier

  "Computer Networks". Book by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 1981.

  8 Copy quote

• A multithreaded file system is only a performance hack.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Linux, Performances, Files

  Usenet message to Linus Torvalds, January 30, 1992.

  7 Copy quote

• 'Linux is a leprosy' - This statement is not grammatically or factually correct.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Leprosy, Linux, Statements

  "Rebuttal to Ken Brown". www.cs.vu.nl. June 06, 2004.

  26 Copy quote

• The only real argument for monolithic systems was performance, and there is now enough evidence showing that microkernel systems can be just as fast as monolithic systems.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Real, Argument, Enough

  "The "Linux is Obsolete" Debate". In a Usenet message, January 29, 1992.

  9 Copy quote

• A couple of years ago this guy called Ken Brown wrote a book saying that Linus stole Linux from me It later came out that Microsoft had paid him to do this

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Couple, Book, Years

  9 Copy quote

• UNIX does not allow path names to be prefixed by a drive name or number; that would be precisely the kind of device dependence that operating systems ought to eliminate.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Names, Numbers, Doe

  "Modern Operating Systems". Book by Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 1992.

  12 Copy quote

• With current technology it is possible to put four floppy disk drives in a personal computer. It is just that doing so would be pointless.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Technology, Would Be, Four

  14 Copy quote

• But in all honesty, I would suggest that people who want a modern "free" OS look around for a microkernel-based, portable OS, like maybe GNU or something like that.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Honesty, People, Looks

  Usenet message, January 29, 1992.

  7 Copy quote

• Writing a portable OS is not much harder than a nonportable one, and all systems should be written with portability in mind these days.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Writing, Mind, Should

  Usenet message, February 03, 1992.

  8 Copy quote

• I had never engaged in remote multishrink psychoanalysis on this scale before, so it was a fascinating experience.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Scales, Fascinating, Psychoanalysis

  "Ken Brown's Motivation, Release 1.2" by Andy Tanenbaum, www.cs.vu.nl. May 21, 2004.

  4 Copy quote

• I really am not angry with Linus. Honest. He's not angry with me either.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Honest, Angry

  "Some Notes on the 'Who wrote Linux' Kerfuffle, Release 1.5". www.informit.com. Jun 7, 2004.

  4 Copy quote

• While most people can talk rationally about kernel design and portability, the issue of free-ness is 100% emotional.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Emotional, Issues, People

  Usenet message, February 03, 1992.

  7 Copy quote

• Microkernels are not a pipe dream. They represent proven technology.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  Dream, Technology, Pipe

  Usenet message, February 05, 1992.

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• A lot of other people wanted a free production UNIX with lots of bells and whistles and wanted to convert MINIX into that. I was dragged along in the maelstrom for a while, but when Linux came along, I was actually relieved that I could go back to professoring.

  Andrew S. Tanenbaum

  People, Bells, Maelstrom

  "Clearing Up Some Misconceptions". "Ken Brown's Motivation, Release 1.2", www.cs.vu.nl. May 21, 2004.

  53 Copy quote

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