less_retarded_wiki/lrs.md

# Less Retarded Software

Less retarded software (LRS) is a specific kind of [software](software.md) aiming to be a truly good technology maximally benefiting and respecting its users, following the philosophy of extreme [minimalism](minimalism.md) ([Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md), [suckless](suckless.md), [KISS](kiss.md)) and [freedom](free_software.md). The term was invented by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md).

## Definition

The definition here is not strict but rather fuzzy, it is in a form of ideas, style and common practices that together help us subjectively identify software as less retarded.

[Software](software.md) is less retarded if it adheres, to a high-degree (not necessarily fully), to the following principles:

- Being made with a [**truly selfless**](selfless.md) goal of maximally helping all living beings who may use the software without any intent of taking advantage of them in any way.
- Trying to follow the [Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md) (do one thing well, use text interfaces, ...).
- Trying to follow the [suckless](suckless.md) philosophy (configs as source files, distributing in source form, ...).
- Being [minimalist](minimalism.md) ([single compilation unit](single_compilation_unit.md), [header-only](header_only.md) libraries, no build systems, no [OOP](oop.md) languages, ...), countercomplex, [KISS](kiss.md).
- Being [free software](free_software.md) legally but ALSO practically (well commented, not bloated and obscured etc., so as to truly and practically enable the freedoms to study, modify etc.).
- Being [free culture](free_culture.md), i.e. LRS programs are free as a whole, including art assets, data etc.
- Minimizing [dependencies](dependency.md), even those such as standard library or relying on OS concepts such as files or threads, even indirect ones such as build systems and even non-software ones (e.g. avoiding [floating point](float.md), GPU, 64bit etc.).
- Very portable, non-discriminating, i.e. being written in a portable language (C etc.), using as little resources as possible (RAM, CPU, ...) and so on.
- [Future-proof](future_proof.md), [self-contained](self_contained.md), not controlled by anyone (should follow from other points).
- [Hacking](hacking.md) friendly and inviting to improvements and customization.
- Built on top of other LRS technology such as the [C99](c.md) language, Unix OS, our own libraries etc.
- Simple permissive licensing (being suckless legally) with great preference of [public domain](public_domain.md), e.g. with [CC0](cc0.md) + patent [waivers](waiver.md).
- Elegant by its simple, well thought-through solutions. (This is to be contrasted with modern rapid development.)
- No [bullshit](bullshit.md) such as [codes of conduct](coc.md), tricky licensing conditions etc.

## Specific Software

The "official" LRS programs and libraries have so far been solely developed by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md), the "founder" of LRS. These include:

- [Anarch](anarch.md): Game similar to [Doom](doom.md).
- [raycastlib](raycastlib.md): Advanced 2D [raycasting](raycasting.md) rendering library.
- [SAF](saf.md): Tiny library for small portable games.
- [small3dlib](small3dlib.md): Simple software rasterizer for 3D rendering.
- [smallchesslib](smallchesslib.md): Simple [chess](chess.md) library and engine ([AI](ai.md)).

Apart from this software a lot of other software developed by other people and groups can be considered LRS, at least to a high degree (there is usually some minor inferiority e.g. in licensing). Especially [suckless](suckless.md) software mostly fits the LRS criteria. The following programs and libraries can be considered LRS at least to some degree:

- [brainfuck](brainfuck.md)
- [dwm](dwm.md)
- [OpenBSD](openbsd.md)
- [LIL](lil.md)
- [lisp](lisp.md)
- [st](st.md)
- [badwolf](badwolf.md)
- [surf](surf.md)
- [tcc](tcc.md)
- [vim](vim.md)

It is also possible to talk about LRS data formats, standards, designs and concepts as such etc. These might include:

- [ASCII](ascii.md)
- [bytebeat](bytebeat.md)
- [farbfeld](farbfeld.md)
- [json](json.md)
- [lambda calculus](lambda_calculus.md)
- [markdown](markdown.md)
- [ppm](ppm.md)
- [reverse polish notation](rpn.md) as opposed to traditional expression notation with brackets, operator precedence and other bloat
- [set theory](set_theory.md)
- [textboards](textboard.md) and [imageboards](imageboard.md) as opposed to [forums](forum.md) (no registration, no users, simple interface)
- [turing machine](turing_machine.md)
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00			`# Less Retarded Software`

Update tuto 2022-04-04 17:34:28 +02:00			`Less retarded software (LRS) is a specific kind of [software](software.md) aiming to be a truly good technology maximally benefiting and respecting its users, following the philosophy of extreme [minimalism](minimalism.md) ([Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md), [suckless](suckless.md), [KISS](kiss.md)) and [freedom](free_software.md). The term was invented by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md).`
Update 2021-11-04 02:59:55 +01:00
			`## Definition`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00
			`The definition here is not strict but rather fuzzy, it is in a form of ideas, style and common practices that together help us subjectively identify software as less retarded.`

			`[Software](software.md) is less retarded if it adheres, to a high-degree (not necessarily fully), to the following principles:`

Update 2021-11-22 01:14:41 +01:00			`- Being made with a [truly selfless](selfless.md) goal of maximally helping all living beings who may use the software without any intent of taking advantage of them in any way.`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00			`- Trying to follow the [Unix philosophy](unix_philosophy.md) (do one thing well, use text interfaces, ...).`
			`- Trying to follow the [suckless](suckless.md) philosophy (configs as source files, distributing in source form, ...).`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00			`- Being [minimalist](minimalism.md) ([single compilation unit](single_compilation_unit.md), [header-only](header_only.md) libraries, no build systems, no [OOP](oop.md) languages, ...), countercomplex, [KISS](kiss.md).`
			`- Being [free software](free_software.md) legally but ALSO practically (well commented, not bloated and obscured etc., so as to truly and practically enable the freedoms to study, modify etc.).`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00			`- Being [free culture](free_culture.md), i.e. LRS programs are free as a whole, including art assets, data etc.`
			`- Minimizing [dependencies](dependency.md), even those such as standard library or relying on OS concepts such as files or threads, even indirect ones such as build systems and even non-software ones (e.g. avoiding [floating point](float.md), GPU, 64bit etc.).`
			`- Very portable, non-discriminating, i.e. being written in a portable language (C etc.), using as little resources as possible (RAM, CPU, ...) and so on.`
Update shit 2021-11-06 20:59:13 +01:00			`- [Future-proof](future_proof.md), [self-contained](self_contained.md), not controlled by anyone (should follow from other points).`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00			`- [Hacking](hacking.md) friendly and inviting to improvements and customization.`
			`- Built on top of other LRS technology such as the [C99](c.md) language, Unix OS, our own libraries etc.`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00			`- Simple permissive licensing (being suckless legally) with great preference of [public domain](public_domain.md), e.g. with [CC0](cc0.md) + patent [waivers](waiver.md).`
Update tuto 2022-04-04 17:34:28 +02:00			`- Elegant by its simple, well thought-through solutions. (This is to be contrasted with modern rapid development.)`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00			`- No [bullshit](bullshit.md) such as [codes of conduct](coc.md), tricky licensing conditions etc.`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00
Update 2022-03-26 23:59:34 +01:00			`## Specific Software`
Init 2021-11-03 21:47:50 +01:00
Update 2022-03-26 23:59:34 +01:00			`The "official" LRS programs and libraries have so far been solely developed by [drummyfish](drummyfish.md), the "founder" of LRS. These include:`

			`- [Anarch](anarch.md): Game similar to [Doom](doom.md).`
			`- [raycastlib](raycastlib.md): Advanced 2D [raycasting](raycasting.md) rendering library.`
			`- [SAF](saf.md): Tiny library for small portable games.`
			`- [small3dlib](small3dlib.md): Simple software rasterizer for 3D rendering.`
			`- [smallchesslib](smallchesslib.md): Simple [chess](chess.md) library and engine ([AI](ai.md)).`

			`Apart from this software a lot of other software developed by other people and groups can be considered LRS, at least to a high degree (there is usually some minor inferiority e.g. in licensing). Especially [suckless](suckless.md) software mostly fits the LRS criteria. The following programs and libraries can be considered LRS at least to some degree:`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00			`- [brainfuck](brainfuck.md)`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00			`- [dwm](dwm.md)`
			`- [OpenBSD](openbsd.md)`
			`- [LIL](lil.md)`
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00			`- [lisp](lisp.md)`
Add IP 2022-01-28 01:44:02 +01:00			`- [st](st.md)`
			`- [badwolf](badwolf.md)`
			`- [surf](surf.md)`
			`- [tcc](tcc.md)`
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00			`- [vim](vim.md)`

Update moar 2022-03-27 14:44:41 +02:00			`It is also possible to talk about LRS data formats, standards, designs and concepts as such etc. These might include:`
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00
			`- [ASCII](ascii.md)`
Update moar 2022-03-27 14:44:41 +02:00			`- [bytebeat](bytebeat.md)`
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00			`- [farbfeld](farbfeld.md)`
			`- [json](json.md)`
Update moar 2022-03-27 14:44:41 +02:00			`- [lambda calculus](lambda_calculus.md)`
Update 2022-03-27 00:57:37 +01:00			`- [markdown](markdown.md)`
Update moar 2022-03-27 14:44:41 +02:00			`- [ppm](ppm.md)`
			`- [reverse polish notation](rpn.md) as opposed to traditional expression notation with brackets, operator precedence and other bloat`
			`- [set theory](set_theory.md)`
			`- [textboards](textboard.md) and [imageboards](imageboard.md) as opposed to [forums](forum.md) (no registration, no users, simple interface)`
			`- [turing machine](turing_machine.md)`