The Lesser-Known Programming Languages

The Lesser-Known Programming Languages


#10 -- SIMPLE

Simple is an acronym for Sheer Idiot's Monopurpose Programming Language Environment. This language, developed at the Hanover College for Technological Misfits, was designed to make it impossible to write code with errors in it. The statements are, therefore, confined to BEGIN, END and STOP. No matter how you arrange the statements, you can't make a syntax error. Programs written in Simple do nothing useful. Thus they achieve the results of programs written in other languages without the tedious, frustrating process of testing and debugging.

#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.

#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.

#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.