# EWD 667: Natural Language Programming Fools

> E.W. Dijkstra argues natural language programming is a fool's errand, not a solution to coding errors.
- Title: EWD 667: Natural Language Programming Fools · Utexas
- Summary: E.W. Dijkstra argues natural language programming is a fool's errand, not a solution to coding errors. E.W. Dijkstra warns natural language programming won't…
- Keywords: ewd 667, natural language programming, e.w. dijkstra, programming languages, error messages, formal symbols, computer science, code errors, technology, startups, EWD, 667
- Source: Utexas — https://cs.utexas.edu/~EWD/transcriptions/EWD06xx/EWD667.html
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ewd 667, natural language programming, e.w. dijkstra, programming languages, error messages, formal symbols, computer science, code errors, technology, startups
## Early computing criticism
Early programmers felt formal symbols were too strict for coding tasks.

> But a moment is a long time, and thought is a painful process.
## High-level languages emerged
High-level programming languages improved error detection but still required precise syntax.
## Natural language programming idea
Some proposed machines should understand human language to reduce coding errors.
## Why natural language fails
Natural language interfaces increase work for both humans and machines without simplifying tasks.
## History of math shows problem
Math history shows verbal approaches led to dead ends without formal symbols.
## Formal symbols are better
Formal symbols let machines avoid nonsense that natural language can't easily catch.
## Natural language programming risks
Natural language programming could take millennia to fix without formal symbols.
## New illiteracy problem
Declining language skills threaten natural language programming's viability.
## Key takeaway

E.W. Dijkstra warns natural language programming won't fix coding errors and could worsen them.