lolcode

[muninnhuginn]

Found via LanguageLog: lolcode.

Whilst I have on a handful of occasions actually wanted to learn to be able to program (for real, as opposed to understanding the syntax, reading code when necessary, which I've done for years) to solve a problem I have, it's never been something I've wanted to do for its own sake particularly (the same could be said of my learning of human languages, too: I'm willing to learn enough to solve a particular problem, e.g. sufficient specialised Italian to read instructions on musical scores, adequate French to process gobbets of Anglo-Norman texts). Essentially, just as it's possible to admire and understand a little of the "grammar" of buildings without being a builder or an architect, I acquire enough knowledge to understand or appreciate but not necessarily to make something of my own.

But...

This I want to learn.

There's something so essentially right about error-handling with "O NOES" let alone ending the program with "KTHXBYE".

Comments

[alitalf.livejournal.com]

essentially right about error-handling with "O NOES" let alone ending the program with "KTHXBYE" Yes there sure is! awsum thx

[armb.livejournal.com]

Have you come across INTERCAL?
The full name of the compiler is "Compiler Language With No Pronounceable Acronym", which is, for obvious reasons, abbreviated "INTERCAL" (http://www.muppetlabs.com/~breadbox/intercal-man/s01.html#2) probably tells you all you want to know, but KTHXBYE did remind of its PLEASE statement identifier.
(While the manual claims that "DO" "PLEASE" and "PLEASE DO" are all equivalent, apparently in fact the reference compiler can reject programs for being either unsufficiently or excessively polite depending on the proportion of PLEASEs used.)

More seriously, http://hacketyhack.net looks interesting as an introductory programming tutorial, but I haven't had a proper look at it yet. I forget where I saw it linked from, but it claimed it covered the sort of niche that Logo was aimed at.

[muninnhuginn]

Yes, I had and do indeed admire it for its correctness.

LOLCAT is almost the antithesis of INTERCAL, rudely demanding, if it asks at all.

[muninnhuginn]

There's prettier intros to programming too, of course: Scratch looks fun for starters.