Strange Code (No Starch Press)
Friday, 21 October 2022

This book, subtitled "Esoteric Languages That Make Programming Fun Again"starts with a dive into the underlying history of programming, covering the early computer-science concepts, like Turing machines and Turing completeness, that led to the languages we use today. Ron Kneusel then explores the realm of “atypical” programming languages, introducing you to the out-of-the-box thinking that comes from these unusual approaches to coding.

<ASIN:1718502400>

Later chapters address the even more unusual esolangs, nearly all of which are like nothing you’ve ever seen. Finally the author helps you develop and use two entirely new programming languages. You may not apply these languages in your day job, but this one-of-a-kind book will motivate you to think differently about what it means to express thought through code, while discovering the far-flung boundaries of programming.

Author: Ronald T. Kneusel
Publisher: No Starch
Date: September 2022
Pages: 496
ISBN: 978-1718502406
Print: 1718502400
Kindle: B09WK69BN6
Audience: General
Level: Intermediate
Category: Other Languages

Topics include: 

  • How to program with pictures using Piet
  • How to write two-dimensional programs in Befunge
  • How to implement machine-learning algorithms using the text pattern matching language SNOBOL
  • How to decipher Brainfuck code like [->-[>+>>]>[[-<+>]+>+>>]<<<<<]
  • How to design and create two original programming languages

For recommended titles of unusual languages see - Programming Book Choices For Fun in our Programmer's Bookshelf section.

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Machines Like Me

Author: Ian McEwan
Publisher: Vintage, 2019
Pages: 304
ISBN: 978-1529111255
Print: 1529111250
Kindle: B07HR6SGQ9
Audience: General
Rating: 4.5
Reviewer: Mike James
A novel about a synthetic human has become so much more relevant recently and guess what - it features Alan Turing.



Racket Programming the Fun Way

Author: James W. Stelly
Publisher: No Starch Press
Date: January 2021
Pages: 360
ISBN: 978-1718500822
Print: 1718500823
Kindle: B085BW4J16
Audience: Developers interested in Racket
Rating: 4
Reviewer: Mike James
If you have ever wanted to Lisp then try Racket.


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