Abstract: The author argues to Silicon Valley that the most important and powerful part of computer science is work that is simultaneously theoretical and practical. He particularly considers the intersection of the theory of algorithms and practical software development. He combines examples from the development of the TeX typesetting system with clever jokes, criticisms, and encouragements.
Aid of his experiences with the development of \TeX\ and METAFONT the author illustrates the relationship between theory and practice of computer science namely of programming. With the help of the \TeX's method for hyphenating words, METAFOND's method of curve drawing and \TeX\ mechanism making ligatures in the text the author stresses that ``there was an enrichment of practice that would have been impossible without the theory and an enrichment of theory that would have been impossible without the practice.
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