Esoteric programming languages are playful, artistic, and often impractical by design. They challenge our assumptions about what code should look like. Let’s explore several notable examples with short, meaningful snippets.
Rockstar makes code look like 80s rock ballads. Variables are poetic phrases, and output commands sound like stage banter.
Homepage: codewithrockstar.com
Midnight takes your heart and your soul While your heart is as high as your soul Put your heart into my dreams Say my dreams
Explanation: Declares variables heart and soul, compares them, stores the result in dreams, and prints it.
Tabloid programs look like clickbait headlines. Variables are declared with sensational claims, and outputs are shouted like breaking news.
Homepage: github.com/thesephist/tabloid
EXPERTS CLAIM answer TO BE 42 EXPERTS CLAIM name TO BE "Alice" YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS answer YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS name
Explanation: Defines two variables (answer and name) and prints them in tabloid style.
Baby Language is a humorous esolang where programs are written as baby babble. Commands like “goo” and “gaa” map to operations similar to Brainf**k.
Reference: Baby Language on esolangs.org
goo goo gaa gaa goo goo goo gaa goo
Explanation: Increments memory cells with “goo” and prints output with “gaa,” mimicking baby talk as code.
Ook! is a parody of Brainf**k, replacing symbols with “Ook” plus punctuation.
Reference: Ook! on esolangs.org
Ook. Ook? Ook. Ook? Ook. Ook? Ook. Ook! Ook! Ook! Ook! Ook! Ook? Ook. Ook. Ook!
Explanation: Moves the memory pointer, increments values, and prints a character using “Ook” pairs.
Chef makes programs look like recipes. Ingredients are variables, mixing bowls are stacks, and cooking steps are instructions.
Reference: Chef on esolangs.org
Hello Soufflé. Ingredients. 72 g sugar 101 g eggs Method. Put sugar into the mixing bowl. Put eggs into the mixing bowl. Serve with joy.
Explanation: Assigns numeric values to sugar and eggs, pushes them into a bowl, and prints their ASCII characters.
| Language | Syntax Style | Variable Declaration | Output Style | Practicality Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockstar | Poetic rock lyrics | Metaphorical phrases (e.g., “Midnight takes your heart”) | Stage commands like Say, Shout, Scream | Turing-complete, playful but functional |
| Tabloid | Clickbait headlines | “EXPERTS CLAIM var TO BE value” | “YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS var” (capitalized + exclamation) | Turing-complete, humorous novelty |
| Baby Language | Baby babble words | Implicit memory cells via “goo”/“gaa” commands | “gaa” outputs values as characters | Turing-complete (Brainf**k derivative) |
| Ook! | “Ook” + punctuation pairs | Implicit memory cells (Brainf**k model) | “Ook. Ook!” → output character | Turing-complete (Brainf**k parody) |
| Chef | Cooking recipes | Ingredients list with numeric values | “Serve with joy” prints bowl contents as ASCII | Turing-complete, artistic and whimsical |