# 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)). 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. - 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)