---
title: Programming theorems
date: "2006-11-08T12:00:00Z"
categories:
  - links
wp_id: 181
description: I've collected several programming theorems that highlight the realities of software maintenance, like the persistence of Perl and the deceptive complexity of CSV. I emphasize that active coding is far more valuable than reading about new languages.
keywords: [programming theorems, perl, csv, software maintenance, coding practice, heuristics]
---

[Programming theorems](http://www.minds.nuim.ie/~dez/serendipity/index.php?/archives/102-Programming-Theorems.html).

> The likelihood of Perl being involved in a system is directly proportional to the length of time the system has been in maintenance.

> Every 5 minutes you spend writing code in a new language is more useful than 5 hours reading blog posts about how great the language is.

> Think twice before presuming that CSV is a nice little easy file format. (see [Leon](http://secretgeek.net/csv_trouble.asp))