"premature optimization" is statement setting itself up for negativity. Of course "premature" optimization is bad - so is basically anything else that happens p

"premature optimization" is statement setting itself up for negativity. Of course "premature" optimization is bad - so is basically anything else that happens prematurely. That's not to deny thoughtful optimization when logical, even before the program runs. I've often found Knuth's quote to be interpreted as "Performance doesn't matter - just get it to run". Which as Knuth points out, for "one shot" programs is probably fine, but for anything in the longer term is damaging.