Welcome to YDC!
Today, we’re going to talk about a programming language that has no practical use.
When you start coding for the first time, you probably search something like, “What is the easiest programming language to learn?” Google often suggests languages like Python, HTML (I know, HTML isn’t a programming language), and Kotlin. But have you ever wondered what the hardest language to learn is? If not, sit back and relax, because I’ve got you covered. Let me introduce you to Malbolge.
What is Malbolge?
Malbolge is a programming language created by Ben Olmstead in 1998. It was designed to be very difficult to write programs in. In fact, the creator never even wrote a working program in Malbolge himself.
Why Was Malbolge Created?
To Challenge Programmers:
Malbolge was created to test the limits of what a programming language could be. It’s like solving a very hard puzzle for developers who love a challenge.
As a Conceptual Experiment:
The name "Malbolge" comes from a section of Dante’s Inferno—which is a perfect description of the “hellish” experience of coding in it.
The language is more about art and testing the limits of what can be done with programming.
No Real-World Use:
Malbolge has no real-world applications. It exists as an intellectual curiosity, providing an outlet for developers who enjoy challenges.
How Was the First Program Made in Malbolge?
The first working program in Malbolge wasn’t written by a human. It was created by an AI program because the language is so complex that it’s nearly impossible for a person to write code by hand.
In Malbolge, every instruction changes itself after it runs, making it very hard to predict what the program will do. Debugging in Malbolge is nearly impossible, even for experienced developers.
Even a simple “Hello, World!” program in Malbolge looks completely confusing because it’s full of random symbols and instructions.
Here’s the code for the "Hello, World!" program in Malbolge:
(=<`#9]~6ZY32Vxwvutsrqponmlk'jig!edcba`_^]\[ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA@?>=<;:9876543210/.-,+*)('It’s incredibly difficult to debug!
Conclusion
Malbolge may not have any practical applications, but it serves as a reminder that programming isn’t just about solving real-world problems. It’s about testing the limits of what’s possible in coding. Embrace the challenge and think beyond functionality—it’s about pushing your mind to new extremes.
That’s the end of this newsletter. Hope you learned something interesting!
Thank you for reading from YDC. Stay curious, and see you in the next one!