Many people interpret this as “agile developers don’t do documentation,” which is wrong. Agile developers do create documentation, but they use a pragmatic filter to make sure the investment in creating any documentation is really worth the effort.

— Andy Hunt, Pragmatic Thinking and Learning

These “standards” have nothing to do with the organization’s image as perceived by outsiders. It’s the image perceived by insiders that matters. The insiders in question—typically second- and third-level managers with shaky self-confidence—are uncomfortable with any kind of behavior that is different from average. They need to impose safely homogenized mores on those beneath them to demonstrate that they are in charge.

— Tom DeMarco and Tim Lister, Peopleware

The goal of strong AI is to produce machines with humanlike intelligence, able to converse with and guide humans. Deep learning has instead given us machines with truly impressive abilities but no intelligence.

— Judea Pearl and Dana Mackenzie, The Book of Why

The human tendency to gather and interpret new information in a biased way to confirm preexisting beliefs is called confirmation bias.

— Gabriel Weinberg and Lauren McCann, Super Thinking

Managing complexity is the most important technical topic in software development. In my view, it’s so important that Software’s Primary Technical Imperative has to be managing complexity.

— Steve McConnell, Code Complete