What is the purpose of this language called Brainfuck?

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What is the purpose of this language called Brainfuck?

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#1 by (13 votes)
#2 by (9 votes)

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There is a programming language called Brainfuck that has a very confusing and difficult to understand syntax.

For example, to make a simple Hello World in it, you have to do the following:

++++++++[>++++[>++>+++>+++>+<<<<-]>+>+>->>+[<]<-]>>.>---.+++++++..+++.>>.<-.<.+++.------.--------.>>+.>++.

Seeing this little string, we can see why the name of the language.

So, taking into account the difficult syntax of the language (and the name), I would like to know what the purpose of the existence of the same one is?

Is this a joke that made or can this language really be used to build applications?

One more example:

brainfuck

asked by anonymous 18.02.2016 / 18:33

2 answers

9

"Brainfuck is an esoteric programming language, has almost no function, is a compact language. Its purpose was to create the smallest compiler in the world, and also challenge and confuse programmers, and then it is not useful for a development.For its simplicity, developing compilers and interpreters for this language is much easier than for other languages, for example, the size of your compiler is 240Bytes . "

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18.02.2016 / 18:46

How to create a vector of variable size? Java: When to use interrupt vs flags?

score 13 · Accepted Answer

This language is part of a set of languages that has more theoretical than practical applications. From Wikipedia

Despite being equivalent to the Turing machine, it was not designed for practical applications, but only to challenge and entertain programmers.

It's kind of a joke, but since it's Turing complete , it can be used to create any application (not that someone else does this in practice). You will find several examples of its use in the Programming Puzzles & Code Golf .