🤓 Fun, odd code things 🐉

Hey! Thanks for reading! Just a reminder that I wrote this some years ago, and may have much more complicated feelings about this topic than I did when I wrote it. Happy to elaborate, feel free to reach out to me! 😄

🎵 The song for this post is The Auctioneer, by Leroy van Dyke as performed by Steve Goodman. 🎵

Despite the best efforts of industry, capitalism, my nasty depressed brain, and tech monopolies, I do Fucking Love Computers. Karen once described my computer aesthetic as "does nothing useful, but very cleverly." Here are some cool projects that scratch some itches for me.

128-Language Quine Ouroboros

The first part of this is knowing what a quine is: a quine is a program that, when run, prints itself. Here's an example in Python:

s = 's = %r; print (s%%s)'; print (s%s)

which you can run with python3 -c "s = 's = %r; print (s%%s)'; print (s%s)". Standard out should print the source code.

So what is this project? It's a program that you can run from any point to produce the next program in the chain, in a different language; which you can run to produce the next program in the chain, in a different language; which you can run…

Each "link" of the chain is in a different language, in alphabetical order, for 128 languages. Check it out here, or the old 50-language version. Selfless plug: I solved 22-odd problems in that many languages.

SQL Mandelbrot Set

I have a blog post waiting in the wings showing you how you can write general-purpose programs in SQL (much like Prolog: your tables contain your Prolog "facts" and your queries/views are the "rules"); but a decent illustration of this is this beautiful SQL query, which if you run it in Postgres:

WITH RECURSIVE
x(i)
AS (
    VALUES(0)
UNION ALL
    SELECT i + 1 FROM x WHERE i < 101
),
Z(Ix, Iy, Cx, Cy, X, Y, I)
AS (
    SELECT Ix, Iy, X::FLOAT, Y::FLOAT, X::FLOAT, Y::FLOAT, 0
    FROM
        (SELECT -2.2 + 0.031 * i, i FROM x) AS xgen(x,ix)
    CROSS JOIN
        (SELECT -1.5 + 0.031 * i, i FROM x) AS ygen(y,iy)
    UNION ALL
    SELECT Ix, Iy, Cx, Cy, X * X - Y * Y + Cx AS X, Y * X * 2 + Cy, I + 1
    FROM Z
    WHERE X * X + Y * Y < 16.0
    AND I < 27
),
Zt (Ix, Iy, I) AS (
    SELECT Ix, Iy, MAX(I) AS I
    FROM Z
    GROUP BY Iy, Ix
    ORDER BY Iy, Ix
)
SELECT array_to_string(
    array_agg(
        SUBSTRING(
            ' .,,,-----++++%%%%@@@@#### ',
            GREATEST(I,1),
            1
        )
    ),''
)
FROM Zt
GROUP BY Iy
ORDER BY Iy;

Produces a printout of the Mandelbrot set:

             ....................................................................................
            .......................................................................................
           .........................................................................................
          ...........................................................................................
        ....................................................,,,,,,,,,.................................
       ................................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............................
      ..............................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........................
     ............................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........................
     ..........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......................
    .........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....................
   ........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...................
  .......................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.................
 .......................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,................
......................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-+--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...............
....................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..............
...................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--- -----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............
.................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---++--++,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,............
................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----%++---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,............
..............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+%----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...........
.............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----- %%+----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........
...........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---%-+%   ----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.........
..........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---+ +##  %+%---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.........
........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----#      # +---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........
.......................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------%       %-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........
.....................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------+         ------,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
....................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----------+@       +-----------,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
..................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----@-------++       ++-----------,,,,,,,,,,,,......
.................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--+@% ---+ +@%%@     %%+@+@%------+-,,,,,,,,,,,......
................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----  # ++%               % @-----++--,,,,,,,,,,,.....
..............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----+    %                  %%++ %+%@-,,,,,,,,,,,.....
.............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+#                       #%    ++-,,,,,,,,,,,,....
............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------+                             @---,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------++%                             ---,,,,,,,,,,,,....
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------+ +                             %+---,,,,,,,,,,,,,...
........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------------@                                +----,,,,,,,,,,,,...
.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,- +-----------------+                                 ----,,,,,,,,,,,,...
.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--++------+---------+%                                 +++--,,,,,,,,,,,,..
......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--%+-----++---------                                     #+-,,,,,,,,,,,,..
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----#%++--+@ -+-----+%                                     --,,,,,,,,,,,,..
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+## ++@ + +----%                                    +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------+@  @     @@++++#                                   +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------%           #++%                                      -,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------++%#           %%@                                     %-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------+               %                                     +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+--++@              #                                      --,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------%+++%                                                    @--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,,,-------------+ @#@                                                    ---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,---@--------@-+%                                                       +---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,------- +-++++-+%%%                                                       +----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,------%--------++%                                                       +----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,,--+----------++#                                                       ---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,,,,------------+@@@%                                                    +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------- +++%                                                    %--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------+@              @                                      --,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------- #              %@                                    +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------++@           %+                                      %-,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------            %++%                                     %-,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------+#  %#   #@ ++++                                    +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+ %%++% +@+----+                                    +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,..
.....,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---%+++--+#+--------%                                    #--,,,,,,,,,,,,..
......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--++-----%%---------                                    @#--,,,,,,,,,,,,..
.......,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---------------------+@                                +-++,,,,,,,,,,,,...
........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------------------+                                 ----,,,,,,,,,,,,...
.........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----,,,-------------                                #+----,,,,,,,,,,,,...
..........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------+ +                              +---,,,,,,,,,,,,,...
...........,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------+%#                           #---,,,,,,,,,,,,....
............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,------+#                        @   @---,,,,,,,,,,,,....
.............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+#                        +    @--,,,,,,,,,,,,....
..............,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---+%   %+@                 %+-+ +++%-,,,,,,,,,,,.....
................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----% %@++              # %  -----++-,,,,,,,,,,,,.....
.................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-- ++ ---+ + +%@     %++++++------%-,,,,,,,,,,,......
...................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---- -------++       +------------,,,,,,,,,,,,......
....................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----------+%       +--------,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
......................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--------+#        -----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.......
.......................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-------+       #----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........
.........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,----+%      %#---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........
..........................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---+%+%@  %+%%--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.........
............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---+-+%  %----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........
.............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+%@+---,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........
...............................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----+%----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...........
................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----%+ +--,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,............
..................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---++----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............
...................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,---@-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............
.....................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,-----,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..............
 .....................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,--%,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...............
 .......................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.................
  ........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..................
   ........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,...................
    .........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....................
     ..........................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,......................
      ............................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,........................
       .............................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,..........................
        ................................................,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.............................
         .....................................................,,,,....................................
          ...........................................................................................
           .........................................................................................
            ......................................................................................
             ....................................................................................
               .................................................................................
                ..............................................................................
                  ...........................................................................
                   ........................................................................

TypeScript/JavaScript polyglot

Like quines, polyglots are a lot of fun. It's a source file that is valid, and can be run on multiple languages. Here's an example that runs as valid C, PHP, and bash:

#define a /*
# /dev/null > /dev/null \ ;
// 2> /dev/null; x=a;
$x=5; // 2> /dev/null \ ;
if (($x))
// 2> /dev/null; then
return 0;
// 2> /dev/null; fi
#define e ?>
#define b */
#include 
#define main() int main(void)
#define printf printf(
#define true )
#define function
function main()
{
printf "Hello, world!\n"true/* 2> /dev/null | grep -v true*/;
return 0;
}
#define c /*
main
#*/

So what happens when one language tries to be a strict superset of another? Can you produce a polyglot that runs on both, to different outputs? Here's an amazing breakdown of how the author found a valid JavaScript program that prints "I'm JavaScript" when run on JavaScript, but prints "I'm TypeScript" when first run through a TypeScript compiler, even though TypeScript is specifically designed to prevent this outcome.

Whitespace

There's the wide world of "esolangs," esoteric programming languages that seem to be about having fun and proving a point more than anything else. Bored and depressed on the Google Bus during my year working there, I wrote a Whitespace interpreter in Racket, and learned a lot about macros in the process.

Whitespace is a language where all the valuable computing is done with spaces, tabs, and newlines (everything else is comment). So here's the program for Fibonacci sequence and here's one for ROT13.

Bonus: Euonia

Poet Christian Bok produced a work called Eunoia, where each chapter only contains a single vowel. Here's from Chapter I:

Writing is inhibiting. Sighing, I sit, scribbling in ink this pidgin script. I sing with nihilistic witticism, disciplining signs with trifling gimmicks — impish hijinks which highlight stick sigils. Isn’t it glib? Isn’t it chic? I fit childish insights within rigid limits, writing shtick which might instill priggish misgiv- ings in critics blind with hindsight. I dismiss nit- picking criticism which flirts with philistinism. I bitch; I kibitz — griping whilst criticizing dimwits, sniping whilst indicting nitwits, dismissing simplis- tic thinking, in which philippic wit is still illicit.