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  fortune index  all fortunes 
  
 |  |  | #2241 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #12: LITHP 
 This otherwise unremarkable language is distinguished by the absence of
 an "S" in its character set; users must substitute "TH".  LITHP is said
 to be useful in protheththing lithtth.
 
 |  |  |  | #2242 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #13: SLOBOL 
 SLOBOL is best known for the speed, or lack of it, of its compiler.
 Although many compilers allow you to take a coffee break while they
 compile, SLOBOL compilers allow you to travel to Bolivia to pick the
 coffee.  Forty-three programmers are known to have died of boredom
 sitting at their terminals while waiting for a SLOBOL program to
 compile.  Weary SLOBOL programmers often turn to a related (but
 infinitely faster) language, COCAINE.
 
 |  |  |  | #2243 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #14 -- VALGOL 
 VALGOL is enjoying a dramatic surge of popularity across the
 industry.  VALGOL commands include REALLY, LIKE, WELL, and Y*KNOW.
 Variables are assigned with the =LIKE and =TOTALLY operators.  Other
 operators include the "California booleans", AX and NOWAY.  Loops are
 accomplished with the FOR SURE construct.  A simple example:
 
 LIKE, Y*KNOW(I MEAN)START
 IF PIZZA	=LIKE BITCHEN AND
 GUY		=LIKE TUBULAR AND
 VALLEY GIRL	=LIKE GRODY**MAX(FERSURE)**2
 THEN
 FOR I =LIKE 1 TO OH*MAYBE 100
 DO*WAH - (DITTY**2); BARF(I)=TOTALLY GROSS(OUT)
 SURE
 LIKE, BAG THIS PROGRAM; REALLY; LIKE TOTALLY(Y*KNOW); IM*SURE
 GOTO THE MALL
 
 VALGOL is also characterized by its unfriendly error messages.  For
 example, when the user makes a syntax error, the interpreter displays the
 message GAG ME WITH A SPOON!  A successful compile may be termed MAXIMALLY
 AWESOME!
 
 |  |  |  | #2244 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #15 -- DOGO 
 Developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Obedience Training, DOGO
 DOGO heralds a new era of computer-literate pets.  DOGO commands include
 SIT, STAY, HEEL, and ROLL OVER.  An innovative feature of DOGO is "puppy
 graphics", a small cocker spaniel that occasionally leaves a deposit as
 it travels across the screen.
 
 |  |  |  | #2245 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #16: C- 
 This language was named for the grade received by its creator when he
 submitted it as a class project in a graduate programming class.  C- is best
 described as a "low-level" programming language.  In fact, the language
 generally requires more C- statements than machine-code statements to
 execute a given task.  In this respect, it is very similar to COBOL.
 
 |  |  |  | #2246 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #17: SARTRE 
 Named after the late existential philosopher, SARTRE is an extremely
 unstructured language.  Statements in SARTRE have no purpose; they just are.
 Thus SARTRE programs are left to define their own functions. SARTRE
 programmers tend to be boring and depressed, and are no fun at parties.
 
 |  |  |  | #2247 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #18: FIFTH 
 FIFTH is a precision mathematical language in which the data types
 refer to quantity.  The data types range from CC, OUNCE, SHOT, and
 JIGGER to FIFTH (hence the name of the language), LITER, MAGNUM and
 BLOTTO.  Commands refer to ingredients such as CHABLIS, CHARDONNAY,
 CABERNET, GIN, VERMOUTH, VODKA, SCOTCH, and WHATEVERSAROUND.
 
 The many versions of the FIFTH language reflect the sophistication and
 financial status of its users.  Commands in the ELITE dialect include
 VSOP and LAFITE, while commands in the GUTTER dialect include HOOTCH
 and RIPPLE. The latter is a favorite of frustrated FORTH programmers
 who end up using this language.
 
 |  |  |  | #2248 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #2: RENE 
 Named after the famous French philosopher and mathematician Rene DesCartes,
 RENE is a language used for artificial intelligence.  The language is being
 developed at the Chicago Center of Machine Politics and Programming under a
 grant from the Jane Byrne Victory Fund.  A spokesman described the language
 as "Just as great as dis [sic] city of ours."
 
 The center is very pleased with progress to date.  They say they have almost
 succeeded in getting a VAX to think. However, sources inside the
 organization say that each time the machine fails to think it ceases to exist.
 
 |  |  |  | #2249 |  | THE LESSER-KNOWN PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES #8: LAIDBACK 
 This language was developed at the Marin County Center for T'ai Chi,
 Mellowness and Computer Programming (now defunct), as an alternative to
 the more intense atmosphere in nearby Silicon Valley.
 
 The center was ideal for programmers who liked to soak in hot tubs while
 they worked.  Unfortunately few programmers could survive there because the
 center outlawed Pizza and Coca-Cola in favor of Tofu and Perrier.
 
 Many mourn the demise of LAIDBACK because of its reputation as a gentle and
 non-threatening language since all error messages are in lower case.  For
 example, LAIDBACK responded to syntax errors with the message:
 
 "i hate to bother you, but i just can't relate to that.  can
 you find the time to try it again?"
 
 |  |  |  | #2250 |  | The Macintosh is Xerox technology at its best. 
 |  |  |  |  |  |   ...            ...   | 
 
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