Intelligent Quotes

Null References: The Billion Dollar Mistake

A conference presentation where Tony Hoare reflects on his 1965 introduction of the null reference in ALGOL W, candidly calling it his “billion-dollar mistake” due to the widespread software errors and system crashes it has caused over the decades.

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Quotes from Null References: The Billion Dollar Mistake

“I call it my billion-dollar mistake. It was the invention of the null reference in 1965.”

Tony Hoare (verified)

Details

Title: Null References: The Billion Dollar Mistake

Author: Tony Hoare

Type: Presentation

Publisher: QCon

Publication time: March 13, 2009

Publication place: London, England

ISBN: 9780132840279

Link: https://dl.acm.org/doi/book/10.5555/63445

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