If There Is One 'scientific'

Yes, I Share Your Concern: How To Program Well -though A Teachable Topic- Is Hardly Taught. The Situation Is Similar To That In Mathematics, Where The Explicit Curriculum Is Confined To Mathematical Results; How To Do Mathematics Is Something The Student Must Absorb By Osmosis, So To Speak. One Reason For Preferring Symbol-manipulating, Calculating Arguments Is That Their Design Is Much Better Teachable Than The Design Of Verbal/pictorial Arguments. Large-scale Introduction Of Courses On Such Calculational Methodology, However, Would Encounter Unsurmoutable Political Problems.

The Art Of Programming Is The Art Of Organizing Complexity.

If In Physics There's Something You Don't Understand, You Can Always Hide Behind The Uncharted Depths Of Nature. You Can Always Blame God. You Didn't Make It So Complex Yourself. But If Your Program Doesn't Work, There Is No One To Hide Behind. You Cannot Hide Behind An Obstinate Nature. If It Doesn't Work, You've Messed Up.

The Effective Exploitation Of His Powers Of Abstraction Must Be Regarded As One Of The Most Vital Activities Of A Competent Programmer.

Thank Goodness We Don't Have Only Serious Problems, But Ridiculous Ones As Well.