"In terms of work I've always had a Bad Attitude in that I won't work anywhere which requires me to work strict hours or follow a dress code. I don't know if that's an Asperger's thing or not, I think it's just being reasonable."
About Bram Cohen
Bram Cohen — Life and Legacy
Bram Cohen is a prominent computer programmer recognized for his creation of BitTorrent, a groundbreaking protocol that transformed the way digital content is shared across the internet. His innovative approach not only facilitated faster downloads but also challenged traditional media distribution models, advocating for a more decentralized internet. Cohen's core philosophy revolves around the idea of freedom in information sharing. He famously stated, 'The internet is a tool for freedom,' which encapsulates his belief that technology should empower individuals rather than restrict them. This perspective is evident in his work with BitTorrent, where he aimed to enable users to share files without the limitations imposed by centralized services. By promoting peer-to-peer technology, Cohen has encouraged a culture of collaboration and openness. The impact of Cohen's work extends beyond mere file sharing; it has influenced how we think about digital rights and access to information. His emphasis on decentralization resonates in today's discussions about internet freedom and privacy, making his insights particularly relevant in an age where data control is increasingly scrutinized. Through his quotes and ideas, Cohen continues to inspire a generation of innovators to rethink the boundaries of technology and its role in society.
Quote collection
Bram Cohen quotes (page 1 of 2)
22 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"The mark of a mature programmer is willingness to throw out code you spent time on when you realize it's pointless"
"The trick is to fix the problem you have, rather than the problem you want."
"Technology is not a panacea. I refuse to work on technology to track users, analyze usage patterns, watermark information, censor, detect drug use, or eavesdrop. I am not naive enough to think any of those technologies could enable a 'compromise'."
"My father taught me Basic and rudimentary C, I learned everything else on my own, including studying computational complexity on my own. That's more a function of my age than anything else though - back when I was in school there were hardly any programming classes."
"Despite my emphasis on technology, I do not view laws as inherently evil. My goals are political ones, even if my techniques are not. The only way to fundamentally succeed is by changing existing laws. If I rejected all help from the political arena I would inevitably fail."
"When you're a connoiseur you look for interesting rather than good."
"Things which any idiot could write usually have the quality of having been written by an idiot."
"With BitTorrent, the cat's out of the bag."
"I am a technological activist. I have a political agenda. I am in favor of basic human rights: to free speech, to use any information and technology, to purchase and use recreational drugs, to enjoy and purchase so-called 'vices', to be free of intruders, and to privacy."
"A good way to have good ideas is by being unoriginal."
"It's always hard to predict what's coming up next. My main guess is that content creators will increasingly start using BitTorrent to distribute their own work directly."
"I can come off as pretty arrogant, but it's because I know I'm right."
"One thing about school - I always had this attitude that I was in school to learn, and attempted to do whatever was involved in that process, while school had this attitude that I was there to earn grades, which I couldn't care less about. Unsurprisingly, my grades weren't very good."
"The content people have no clue. I mean, no clue. The cost of bandwidth is going down to nothing. And the size of hard drives is getting so big, and they're so cheap, that pretty soon you'll have every song you own on one hard drive. The content distribution industry is going to evaporate."
"You get so tired of having your work die. I just wanted to make something that people would actually use."
"Arimaa's a better game than I thought. It follows a fairly sound approach to making the game difficult for computers."
"My favorite language for maintainability is Python. It has simple, clean syntax, object encapsulation, good library support, and optional named parameters."
"Give and ye shall receive."
"I've accomplished more working on my own than I ever did as part of a team."