Talking to Machines (Those A**Holes)

In this class, we will discuss what it means to envision speaking to machines as a special case of using language as opposed to a special case of math or magical incantations. We will explore the artistic and aesthetic possibilities of creating our own distoring languages.

Timeline

Day 1: Talking to Machines, PLT Through the Ages

• Discuss the history of PLT & talking to machines, including esolangs
• On Distortion, Exercises in Style
• Learn about parsing expression grammars
• Set Up tools

Day 2: Making Our Own

• Working alone or in teams to make a distortion language with either PLTJS or Ohm

Pre-Class Resources

If you aren't familiar with basic programming concepts, particularly in Javascript, I'd recommend taking the time to do the basic Codecademy Javascript track or the Code School lessons.

If you'd like to read about esolangs and just get really excited, check out: Esoteric.codes, Daniel Temkin's blog, or the Esolangs Wiki and Rosetta Code

Programming history and background books:

• [Code] (http://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software/dp/0735611319/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437497973&sr=8-1&keywords=code)
• 10 PRINT CHR

Interesting videos:

• Future of Programming
• Sketchpad Part 2
• Mother of All Demos