Description #
Glass is a graphical esoteric programming language where programs are created by manipulating stained glass-like images, making visual design integral to coding.
History #
Created in 2013 by Ben Olmstead, Glass explores programming through visual art, treating code as a form of stained glass with color patterns representing instructions.
Hello World Code #
Glass uses image files for programs; here is a textual description:
A colored stained-glass panel arranged in a specific pattern encodes the “Hello World” output.
How to Run #
Option 1: Online
No widely available online runner; programs run via a dedicated interpreter.
Option 2: Local
Download the Glass interpreter from the creator’s repository and run the image file containing the code.
Key Concepts #
- Syntax style: Visual patterns/colors in stained glass images
- Typing discipline: N/A (esoteric visual)
- Execution model: Interpreter-based image processing
- Common use cases: Visual programming art, esoteric experiments
- Toolchain: Custom Glass interpreter
- Paradigms: Visual programming
- Compilation: None, interpreted from images
- Strengths: Unique artistic coding style
- Libraries: None
- Community: Very niche, mostly artists and esoteric coders
Try It Online #
None currently available
Fun Facts #
- Glass programs are essentially images, blurring the line between art and code.
- The language uses colors and shapes instead of text-based syntax.
- It is a rare example of a truly visual esolang emphasizing aesthetics.
- Writing programs involves creating stained glass art that also executes code.
- Glass highlights the creativity possible in language design beyond text.
