Description #
HQ9+ is a minimalist esoteric programming language with only four commands: H, Q, 9, and +, each performing a specific simple task.
History #
Created by Cliff L. Biffle in 2001, HQ9+ was designed as a joke language to illustrate absurd minimalism in programming languages.
Hello World Code #
H(This prints “Hello, World!”)
How to Run #
Option 1: Online
HQ9+ Interpreter on TIO
Option 2: Local
Use available HQ9+ interpreters from open-source repositories.
Key Concepts #
- Syntax style: Single-character commands
- Typing discipline: N/A
- Execution model: Interpreter-based
- Common use cases: Humor, language design satire
- Toolchain: Custom interpreters
- Paradigms: Imperative
- Compilation: None
- Strengths: Extremely simple, humorous
- Libraries: None
- Community: Small niche
Try It Online #
Fun Facts #
- H prints “Hello, World!”
- Q prints the program’s own source code (quine).
- 9 prints the lyrics to “99 Bottles of Beer.”
- increments an internal accumulator.
- It’s often cited in programming jokes and language design discussions.
