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Asked: 2024-09-25T16:57:46+05:30

What quirky code snippets from various programming languages would you include in an anthology that celebrates the obscurities and uniqueness of coding styles, and how would you engage readers unfamiliar with the intricacies of programming?

I recently stumbled upon an interesting challenge that got me thinking about a few programming concepts and, honestly, I’m curious to hear what others think. The challenge revolves around the concept of “chrestomathy,” which is essentially a collection of excerpts or selections from literary works. What if we applied this idea to programming?

Imagine we’ve got a bunch of code snippets from different programming languages that we want to compile into a sort of anthology. The idea is to present these snippets in a way that highlights their unique qualities while also pointing out any quirks or obscurities that make them stand out. It feels like a fun way to appreciate the peculiarities of different coding styles, wouldn’t it?

Here’s the catch: I’d like to know your thoughts on what kinds of code you’d include. What snippets would make the cut for their obscurity, elegance, or just plain weirdness? For instance, maybe you’ve come across a particularly cryptic one-liner in Perl, or perhaps a convoluted function from an older version of JavaScript that leaves you scratching your head.

Also, how would you decide what counts as “obscure”? Are we talking about language features that are rarely used, bizarre hacks that achieve surprising results, or literally just the oldest and strangest bits of code you can find? And more practically, how would you present these in a way that is both engaging and informative for someone who might not be a coding wizard?

I’d love to see everyone’s contributions, whether it’s a single line of code, a multi-function masterpiece, or even just an anecdote about a piece of code that perplexed you. Let’s celebrate the quirks and oddities of programming while digging deep into why they work (or sometimes don’t). What do you think? Share your thoughts and let’s create our own little programming anthology!

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    2 Answers

    1. The concept of creating an anthology of programming snippets is indeed a fascinating way to explore the nuances and peculiarities of different programming languages. We could curate code examples that showcase bizarre behavior, witty one-liners, or rare language features that might leave even seasoned developers scratching their heads. For instance, including obfuscated one-liners in Perl, such as the infamous $_=<>; s/(\d+)/$1**2/; print;, highlights Perl’s ability to express a lot of functionality in a single line but also emphasizes readability issues. Similarly, JavaScript can provide us with gems like Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_, i) => i + 1).map( n => n % 15 === 0 ? "FizzBuzz" : n % 3 === 0 ? "Fizz" : n % 5 === 0 ? "Buzz" : n);, which encapsulates the FizzBuzz challenge in a functional notation, showcasing idiomatic JavaScript while dealing with the complexity of array manipulation and higher-order functions.

      As for defining what counts as “obscure,” we could categorize snippets based on their rarity, elegance, or historical significance. For instance, we might consider language features that are not commonly used, such as the “goto” statement in languages like C, or intricate hacks that yield unexpected results—like the use of $(function() { ... })(); in jQuery, which creates an immediately invoked function expression. These examples could be accompanied by explanations detailing why each snippet is included, contextual anecdotes about their usage, and whether they are still relevant today. Presenting them through a collaboratively constructed website or a simple Markdown document would allow for easier engagement, where developers could contribute comments or insights on each snippet, fostering a community around this eclectic collection of programming history and quirks.






    2. Programming Chrestomathy

      Programming Anthology Challenge!

      So, this is a cool idea for a fun coding challenge! Here’s how I’d imagine tackling it:

      Code Snippets to Include

      • Perl One-Liner: How about this classic?
        perl -e 'print join(", ", map { "$_" } (1..10))'.
        It’s a bit cryptic but shows the power of Perl with just one line!
      • JavaScript Oddity: Ever seen this?
        !!(function(){ return { "foo": "bar" }; })().
        The double negation is wild!
      • Python Enchantments: The walrus operator was a game changer!
        (value := compute_value()) makes life easier but is kinda strange to see!

      What Counts as “Obscure”?

      This one’s tricky! I think “obscure” could mean:

      1. Features that nobody uses anymore, like goto in C.
      2. Bizarre hacks that work but make you think, “How did they even think of that?”
      3. Old, weird languages like COBOL with their own quirks.

      Presentation Ideas

      To keep it engaging, I’d use:

      • Interactive Code Playgrounds: Let people run the code snippets right there!
      • Comments and Explanations: Brief explanations for why each snippet is included.
      • Fun Facts: Little tidbits about the language or the specific feature!

      Join the Anthology!

      If you’ve got any snippets or stories, please share! Let’s create an anthology that showcases the quirks of programming 🎉


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