The 1972 Unveiling of the INTERCAL Compiler Code
Unleashing the Weird World of INTERCAL
Ever stumbled upon the strange world of INTERCAL? If not, don't worry, you're not alone. This quirky language has its roots in 1972, with the main aim being to be as awkward as possible to use. It's the ancestor of code systems such as brainf**k and othermind-numbingly complex languages.
Why is INTERCAL so peculiar, you ask? Well, one of its peculiarities includes the use of "PLEASE" in statements. If you don't sprinkle it just right, the interpreter will take offense and dismiss your program! But if you're overly polite, well, that's just as bad and your program gets ignored again. If you've already developed a dislike for GOTO, you'll cringe at COME FROM, though that's a later version of INTERCAL.
Want a taste of this eccentricity? Check out the example program from the user's manual below:
Pretty unusual, right? It doesn't end there - you can actually get SPITBOL, another unusual language, for modern systems. This means it's possible to run this version of INTERCAL on a current-day machine! But why? That's up to you to ponder.
You can find all the juicy details on GitHub, along with links to the manual if you decide to give it a shot. We've delved into similar languages before, but feel free to write your own cryptic code in a more conventional language if you feel like it.
A Brief Peek into the History of INTERCAL:
Purpose:Nicknamed "Compiler Language With No Pronounceable Acronym," INTERCAL originated in 1972 as a humorous retort to the verbose programming languages of its time, like FORTRAN and COBOL. Its goal was to be as difficult to understand and work with as possible, earning it a place among esoteric programming languages.
History:Created as a tongue-in-cheek response to traditional programming languages, INTERCAL is often hailed as the first esoteric programming language. It endured to gain a fanbase for its oddities and challenges over the years.
How INTERCAL Makes it to Modern Machines:
1. Transpilation and Compilation:The original INTERCAL compiler, ICAL, produced "spitball code," an intermediate form of code that could be translated into code modern machines could execute.
2. C Language Version:The development of a C language version of the INTERCAL compiler increased its portability and user-friendliness.
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3. Open-source Availability:INTERCAL is now supported on various open-source package management systems, simplifying installation and execution on modern systems.
4. Restoration Efforts:Recent efforts to reconstruct the 1972 version of INTERCAL and make it natively executable on modern computers have expanded its accessibility.
Technology has enabled the modern execution of INTERCAL, a quirky programming language originally created in 1972 as a humorous response to traditional languages like FORTRAN and COBOL. With the development of a C language version of the INTERCAL compiler and its availability on open-source package management systems, the strange world of INTERCAL can now be experienced on current-day machines.
