Dave Parnas Quotes

Canada, Software Developer
February 10, 1941

David Lorge Parnas (born February 10, 1941) is a Canadian early pioneer of software engineering, who developed the concept of information hiding in modular programming, which is an important element of object-oriented programming today. He is also noted for his advocacy of precise documentation.

My judgment is that research in 'Star Wars' is going to fail, and I believe this so strongly that I'm willing to stake my professional reputation on this. I don't believe anybody is going to build this thing.

Dave Parnas
Whenever anyone says, 'theoretically,' they really mean, 'not really.'

Dave Parnas

There are no standards for computer programmers and no group to certify them.

Dave Parnas
As a rule, software systems do not work well until they have been used, and have failed repeatedly, in real applications.

Dave Parnas
- Work
- Real
When someone builds a bridge, he uses engineers who have been certified as knowing what they are doing. Yet when someone builds you a software program, he has no similar certification, even though your safety may be just as dependent upon that software working as it is upon the bridge supporting your weight.

Dave Parnas
- May
- Safety
- Bridge