Alan Cox Quotes, born July 22, 1968, in Solihull, England, is a British computer programmer and a pivotal figure in the development of the Linux kernel, which powers the majority of web servers on the modern internet. Since 1991, he has been a key contributor, maintaining the 2.2 branch of the Linux kernel and continuing to shape its evolution. A graduate of Swansea University with a BSc in Computer Science (1991) and an MBA (2005), Cox lives in Swansea, Wales. Known for his technical expertise and candid humor, he has also been an advocate for open-source software and hacker culture. These 15 quotes—sourced from interviews, his writings, and posts on X—reflect his insights on programming, technology, and life, capturing his witty and rebellious spirit.
15 Alan Cox Quotes
- “Live fast, die old, and make very sure everyone knows you were there.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “All software sucks.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “I figure lots of predictions is best. People will forget the ones I get wrong and marvel over the rest.” (Interview, BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “A computer is a state machine. Threads are for people who can’t program state machines.” (Wikiquote, 2007)
- “There is a difference between being a hacker and the ‘socially inadequate computer geek’ vision of the press.” (Interview, QuoteTab, n.d.)
- “Everybody in the real world will agree—the moment a project is behind deadline, quality assurance tends to go out the window.” (Interview, InspirationalStories, 2012)
- “Engineering does not require science. Science helps a lot but people built perfectly good brick walls long before they knew why cement works.” (Wikiquote, 2007)
- “XML is simply Lisp done wrong.” (Post on X, @CodeWisdom, 2016-04-03)
- “I do enjoy grinning manically at passing people while waving an axe around attempting to kill off unwanted plant life.” (Interview, InspirationalStories, n.d.)
- “It’s all right to cry. It’s all right to hurt. It’s all right to be confused. Hope will rebuild landmarks.” (Interview, QuoteHD, n.d.)
- “They put over 100 million transistors on a tiny piece of silicon. On that piece of silicon there are more lines than there are on a roadmap of London—and they work.” (Interview, InspirationalStories, n.d.)
- “The fact KDE and Gnome exist suggests they serve different groups of users. KDE provides more configuration and control, and Gnome more ease of use while giving up that control.” (Interview, InspirationalStories, n.d.)
- “I’m going to Disneyland!” (Interview, Quotio, n.d.)
- “There are very very few errors in a microprocessor.” (Interview, InspirationalStories, n.d.)
- “Hope will outlive the broken hearts. Hope will outlive the disillusioned.” (Interview, QuoteHD, n.d.)
Alan Cox’s quotes are a lively mix of technical insight, irreverent humor, and unexpected warmth, inspiring coders and dreamers to embrace their craft and live boldly. Which one’s got you ready to hack the system or chase your own adventure? Drop it in the comments and keep Cox’s open-source legacy thriving!
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