L33t (programming language)
l33t is an esoteric programming language created in 2005 by Stephen McGreal and Alex Mole. It is based loosely on brainfuck and influenced by beatnik.
It is a programming language which can be coded in leetspeak, and has networking functionality and the ability to self-modify.
"l33t" is a good example of how new forms of expression can be formed by the fusion of two very different subcultural expressions. Leetspeak is a language centric subcultural expression which plays with visual word patterns to form a kind of coded language. While esoteric programming languages, and Brainfuck in particular, are a subcultural expression centered around computational theory and mathematics.
"l33t" makes it possible to write coded messages in Leetspeak which at the same time are executable programs. Viewed from the subjective perspective of the leetspeak subculture this particular attribute of "l33t" adds another layer of coded meaning to leetspeak and is therefore an extension of the subculture into new domains of expression.
Viewed from the subjective perspective of the esoteric programming language subculture "l33t" is just another esoteric programming language and within the established forms of expression.
Because of this "l33t" belongs to both these subcultures and/or could be seeding a new subculture.
At least 3 independent implementations of "l33t" have been created.
Hello World in l33t
Note that the language specification considers all ASCII characters valid. However, only the numerals are meaningful. Each word, that is, group of characters delimited by white space, is equivalent to the sum of the digits within it. For instance, the first line: Gr34t l33tN3$$? could be replaced by the code: 7 9. Unlike in most programming languages, this would be considered bad practice in L33t.
// "Hello World" by Stephen McGreal.
// Note that the views expressed in this source code do not necessarily coincide with those of the author :o)
Gr34t l33tN3$$?
M3h...
iT 41n't s0 7rIckY.
l33t sP33k is U8er keWl 4nD eA5y wehn u 7hink 1t tHr0uGh.
1f u w4nn4be UB3R-l33t u d3f1n1t3lY w4nt in 0n a b4d4sS h4xX0r1ng s1tE!!!;p
w4r3Z c0ll3cT10n2 r 7eh l3Et3r!
Qu4k3 cL4nS r 7eh bE5t tH1ng 1n teh 3nTIr3 w0rlD!!!
g4m3s wh3r3 u g3t to 5h00t ppl r 70tAl1_y w1cK1d!!
I'M teh fr4GM4stEr aN I'lL t0t41_1Ly wIpE teh phr34k1ng fL00r ***j3d1 5tYlE*** wItH y0uR h1dE!!!!KEKEKE!
t3lEphR4gG1nG l4m3rs wit mY m8tes r34lLy k1kK$ A$$
l33t hAxX0r$ CrE4t3 u8er- k3wL 5tUff lIkE n34t pR0gR4mm1nG lAnguidGe$...
s0m3tIm3$ teh l4nGu4gES l00k jUst l1k3 rE41_ 0neS 7o mAkE ppl Th1nk th3y'r3 ju$t n0rMal lEE7 5pEEk but th3y're 5ecRetLy c0dE!!!!
n080DY unDer5tAnD$ l33t SpEaK 4p4rT fr0m j3d1!!!!!
50mE kId 0n A me$$4gEb04rD m1ghT 8E a r0xX0r1nG hAxX0r wH0 w4nT2 t0 bR34k 5tuFf, 0r mAyb3 ju5t sh0w 7eh wAy5 l33t ppl cAn 8E m0re lIkE y0d4!!! hE i5 teh u8ER!!!!
1t m1ght 8E 5omE v1rus 0r a Pl4ySt4tI0n ch34t c0dE.
1t 3v3n MiTe jUs7 s4y "H3LL0 W0RLD!!!" u ju5t cAn'T gu3s5.
tH3r3's n3v3r anY p0iNt l00KiNg sC3pT1c4l c0s th4t, be1_1Ev3 iT 0r n0t, 1s whAt th1s 1s!!!!!
5uxX0r5!!!KEKEKEKEK!!!!!!!
External links
- Homepage of the l33t Programming Language
- Ruby l33t A l33t interpreter written in Ruby by Eric Redmond
- C l33t A l33t interpreter written in C by Alecs King