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E. W. Dijkstra Archive: On the fact that the Atlantic Ocean has two sides. (EWD 611)

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This is an open letter to my co-members of the IFIP Working Group 2.3 on "Programming Methodology". Among my writings thus so far it will be an exception, because, up till now, it has been for me very rare to undertake a task of which I knew beforehand that I would not be able to do it well enough. The reason that, nevertheless, I have decided to undertake it is quite simple: it has to be done, and offhand I can think of no one else less unqualified to try to do so. My subject should be very simple, for it is only the difference between the orientations of computing science at two sides of the Atlantic Ocean. That there is a difference should not amaze us at all, for the Atlantic Ocean is very big. For a variety of reasons, however, this difference is a bit hard to discuss: the difference itself is no problem, but it becomes a problem when ignored or denied. It is a bit hard to discuss for about three reasons. Firstly, we are comparing prevailing attitudes between conti

E. W. Dijkstra Archive: On the fact that the Atlantic Ocean has two sides. (EWD 611) EWD611 On the fact that the Atlantic Ocean has two sides. Introduction and apology. This is an open letter to my co-members of the IFIP Working Group 2.3 on "Programming Methodology". Among my writings thus so far it will be an exception, because, up till now, it has been for me very rare to undertake a task of which I knew beforehand that I would not be able to do it well enough. The reason that, nevertheless, I have decided to undertake it is quite simple: it has to be done, and offhand I can think of no one

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