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Diffstat (limited to 'doc/gawk.texi')
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/gawk.texi | 23 |
1 files changed, 18 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/doc/gawk.texi b/doc/gawk.texi index 575e9abd..e0582620 100644 --- a/doc/gawk.texi +++ b/doc/gawk.texi @@ -18010,11 +18010,24 @@ it allows you to encapsulate algorithms and program tasks in a single place. It simplifies programming, making program development more manageable, and making programs more readable. -One valuable way to learn a new programming language is to @emph{read} -programs in that language. To that end, this @value{CHAPTER} -and @ref{Sample Programs}, -provide a good-sized body of code for you to read, -and hopefully, to learn from. +In their seminal 1976 book, @cite{Software Tools}@footnote{Sadly, over 35 +years later, many of the lessons taught by this book have yet to be +learned by a vast number of practicing programmers.}, Brian Kernighan +and P.J.@: Plauger wrote: + +@quotation +Good Programming is not learned from generalities, but by seeing how +significant programs can be made clean, easy to read, easy to maintain and +modify, human-engineered, efficient and reliable, by the application of +common sense and good programming practices. Careful study and imitation +of good programs leads to better writing. +@end quotation + +In fact, they felt this idea was so important that they placed this +statement on the cover of their book. Because we believe strongly +that their statement is correct, this @value{CHAPTER} and @ref{Sample +Programs}, provide a good-sized body of code for you to read, and we hope, +to learn from. @c 2e: USE TEXINFO-2 FUNCTION DEFINITION STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!! This @value{CHAPTER} presents a library of useful @command{awk} functions. |