Description #
Velato is an esoteric programming language where the code is written in the form of MIDI music. Instead of traditional syntax, instructions are encoded using the pitch and order of musical notes. Programs must sound like music, and functionality is determined by melodies—not text.
History #
Velato was introduced in 2006 by Daniel Temkin. The concept was inspired by the idea of embedding logic into artistic media. Unlike other musical languages, Velato doesn’t just assign notes to commands—it interprets sequences and pitch relationships to control flow and operations.
Hello World Code #
The actual “Hello World” in Velato is a MIDI file that plays a simple melody encoding the output instruction. Here’s an overview of what it might sound like:
- A sequence of ascending notes to initialize output
- Chords to represent data points
- A descending phrase to signal the end
🎵 Download Example MIDI – Hello World
How to Run #
Option 1: Local (Required)
Install a Velato interpreter:
Save or compose a MIDI file (e.g., hello.mid)
Run:
python velato.py hello.midNote: Velato cannot run in most online code runners because it requires MIDI file interpretation.
Key Concepts #
- Programs are MIDI files
- Pitch = opcode
- Sequence = logic flow
- Harmony encodes parameters
- Polyphony = parallel operations
- Fully Turing complete
- Requires musical intuition
- Interpreters parse note data, not text
- Musical creativity influences performance
- Not limited by visual syntax
Try It Online #
- ❌ Not supported on TIO
- ✅ Requires MIDI + local interpreter
- 🔗 Velato Interpreter GitHub
Fun Facts #
- Velato can be played live—if you compose it right, the output is both music and computation.
- The original interpreter uses Python and MIDI decoding libraries.
- Some Velato programs are indistinguishable from short jazz solos.
