计算机之灵魂（翻译）

下面的文字来自MIT的

Structure and Interpretation 
of Computer Programs 前言

这段前言深深的打动了我，让我知道，原来所谓的计算机科学是这样的：

This book is dedicated, in respect and admiration, to the spirit that lives in the computer.

``I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customers got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don't think we are. I think we're responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Above all, I hope we don't become missionaries. Don't feel as if you're Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don't feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What's in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more.''

Alan J. Perlis (April 1, 1922-February 7, 1990)

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谨此书献给计算机之灵魂。

我想从事计算机科学这行最最重要的一点，就是保持乐趣。当我们开始学习时，它总是充满了乐趣。当然，顾客们或多或少的被我们的产品欺骗，然后我们不得不开始认真考虑他们的报怨，我们开始反问自己能不能真的可以成功的，完美无差的使用这些机器。我不相信我们可以。我们有责任改进它们，纠正开发方向并保持自己的乐趣。我希望计算机科学永远不要丢掉它的乐趣感。总之，我希望我们不要成为传教士，不要认为自己是圣经推销员，世界上已经有很多了。你所知道的技术其它人也在学习，不要认为能够成功编程的钥匙只掌握在你手里。我认为并且希望在你手里的，是智慧：比刚开始时了解更多机器细节的能力，做出更多更好的东西。

（初次翻译，如有不当请指正）