26 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
26 lines
1.6 KiB
Markdown
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# Esoteric Programming Language
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So called esoteric programming languages (esolangs) are highly experimental and [fun](fun.md) [programming languages](programming_language.md) that employ bizarre ideas. Popular languages of this kind include [brainfuck](brainfuck.md), [chef](chef.md) or [omgrofl](omgrofl.md).
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Some notable ideas employed by esolangs are:
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- Using images instead of text as [source code](source_code.md).
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- Doing nothing.
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- Having two dimensional source code.
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- Source code resembling cooking recipes.
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- Trying to be as hard to use as possible.
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- Trying to be as hard to compile as possible.
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- Adding randomness to program execution.
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- Obligation to beg the compiler to do its job.
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- Using only white characters in source code.
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- Using only single letter in source code.
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- Using git repository structure as source code.
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- Source code resembling dramatic plays.
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Esolangs are great because:
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- **They are actually useful research in language design**, even if most of the ideas aren't useful directly, esolangs really teach us about the borders and definitions of what languages are. And sometimes, by mistake, actual discoveries are made.
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- They are **[fun](fun.md)**.
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- **They are great exercise in [programming](programming.md)** and design. Simple languages that are allowed to not be useful are potentially good for education as they let the programmer fully focus on a specific idea and its implementation.
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- **They blend technology with [art](art.md)**, train creativity.
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- **They are a breath of fresh air** in the sometimes too serious area of technology. Hobbyist and non-commercial programming communities are always great to have.
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