What is premature optimization really according to Knuth?

The article on ProbablyDance revisits Donald Knuth's classic paper on 'premature optimization'. Knuth warned programmers against putting too much focus on optimizing code too early in the development process. He argued that this can lead to wasting resources and time that could be more effectively used in other areas of the project. Instead, he suggested that programmers should first concentrate on writing clear and correct code, and only after a thorough analysis, proceed to optimization. The article cites contemporary examples and cases where premature optimization indeed led to issues in software projects, suggesting that Knuth’s advice still holds immense value in today’s software development. In an era of rapidly evolving technology, developers must be cautious not to lose sight of the primary goals of programming: to create useful and efficient software that is clear and easy to maintain.