In this part of our computer programming language guide, we'll be focusing on a quirky language known as Brainfuck.
Brainfuck is an esoteric language created by Urban Müller in 1993, whose goal was to create the smallest possible compiler.
Brainfuck consists of only eight simple commands (+, -, <, >, [, ], ., and ,). It operates on a data pointer and an instruction pointer.
Despite its simplicity, Brainfuck is fully Turing complete, although its lack of abstraction makes writing practical programs cumbersome. The language is an example of a Turing tarpit in that it can be used to write any program, but it would be impractical to do so because the language provides so little abstraction that the programs would be very long and complicated. In other words, while the language features are simplistic, programs written in Brainfuck would be complicated.
For this reason, Brainfuck is a playful experiment rather than a practical tool, as it requires programmers to break down commands into microscopic steps. Its purpose is to amuse and challenge programmers. Nevertheless, enthusiasts have created Brainfuck interpreters, compilers, and even Brainfuck-based art or puzzles.
Its name reflects its complexity, as the term suggests something so complicated or unusual that it exceeds human understanding.
To avoid cultural sensitivities, aliases such as brainfsck, branflakes, brainfrick, and others are sometimes used.
Brainfuck is a minor variation of the P programming language created by Corrado Böhm in 1964, which was explicitly based on the Turing machine. Böhm's P language used six symbols, equivalent to Brainfuck commands, to compute any computable function.
Brainfuck stands in stark contrast to high-level languages such as Python, Java, and C++. While Python emphasizes readability and expressiveness, Brainfuck prioritizes minimalism. Brainfuck lacks loops, conditionals, and functions, making it challenging to write all but the most trivial programs.
Brainfuck is an unusual language that pushes the boundaries of what programming can be while technically being a legitimate programming language.
Recommended Resources
BFC: An Industrial-Grade Brainfuck Compiler
Described as a fast compiler for a silly language, BFC uses traditional compiler techniques to reduce runtime and memory usage. It includes compile-time evaluation, dead code elimination, and constant folding. A link to its source code and other utilities on GitHub is provided, and the website also provides instructions for installing and running BFC, including prerequisites, compiling BFC, running BVC, and diagnostics. The range of optimizations included with BFC is outlined.
https://bfc.wilfred.me.uk/
This website lists several programs made with the Brainfuck programming language, along with brief explanatory comments and the source code for each, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike International License. Also included is a draft of a paper related to the dbfi.b Brainfuck interpreter, and some Brainfuck implementations (a quick and dirty interpreter in C, a slow interpreter in C, and an unreasonably restrictive score computing interpreter used for BFCC).
http://www.brainfuck.org/
Implemented in Dart, the Brainfuck Visualizer serves as both an interpreter and a visualizer for the esoteric language known as Brainfuck, known for its extreme minimalism. The Brainfuck Visualizer's interpreter allows users to input code and see it executed step by step. As the code runs, the memory cells, data pointer movements, and command execution can be seen. Legitimate commands in Brainfuck are stated, and a link to the project's GitHub repository is provided.
https://brainfuck-visualizer.netlify.app
Codingame: Getting Started with Brainfuck
The Codingame playground provides a platform for learning and practicing programming in various programming languages, such as Brainfuck. In BF, there are only eight instructions. This portion of the website offers instructions for getting started with BF, with examples of simple programs. The second page covers sum numbers in BF, while subtractions are covered on the third page, move values on the fourth page, copy values on the fifth page, and multiplication on the sixth.
https://www.codingame.com/playgrounds/50426/getting-started-with-brainfuck/welcome
dCode provides tools and resources related to various mathematical, cryptographic, and programming concepts, including the Brainfuck programming language. This section of its site provides information and resources related to the esoteric language created by Urban Müller in 1993. Included is a tool to decode/encode in Brainfuck, a Brainfuck interpreter and encoder, a FAQ, and several other tools, utilities, and informational resources for the language.
https://www.dcode.fr/brainfuck-language
The online platform serves as both a Brainfuck editor and an optimizing interpreter. The editor allows users to write and experiment with code directly in the web browser, while the optimizing interpreter converts the code written in the editor to JavaScript code, which is then executed in a web worker. Special characters can be added to the input field and represented in decimal format. Memory view allows users to see how the memory cells are manipulated during program execution.
https://copy.sh/brainfuck/
Using a Wiki platform, Esolangs highlights esoteric programming languages, such as Brainfuck, one of the most famous esoteric languages, although aliases are often used to refer to it. An overview of the language is provided, including its history, code examples, such as a "Hello World" program written in Brainfuck. Libraries for the language, self-interpreters, implementation issues, conventions, extensions, algorithms, related languages, and external resources are noted.
https://esolangs.org/wiki/Brainfuck
This is the original Brainfuck distribution by Urban Müller, which contains the original Brainfuck programs, including the compiler and interpreter, and can be considered a historical reference to the language's origins, although the language continues in several other forks and repositories. This contains the source for the compiler, the interpreter for the language, the source for the interpreter, and some example code, including the "Hello World" program.
https://gist.github.com/rdebath/0ca09ec0fdcf3f82478f
This GitHub repository contains a high-level programming language that compiles into Brainfuck. Written in Rust, it provides a unique perspective on Brainfuck programming. Licensed by the MIT License, the Brainfuck interpreter companion to the Brainfck programming language is available, and a Brainfuck specification for the interpreter is available in the brainfuck.md file. Instructions for installation and usage are provided, along with various examples.
https://github.com/sunjay/brainfuck
OneStep! Code: A Brainfuck Compiler in C
OneStep! Code provides programming tutorials, explanations, and practical examples for various programming languages. Published on October 21, 2020, this portion of the site features the Brainfuck programming language, a minimalistic and esoteric language that consists of only a few symbols. The language is introduced, along with a guide to coding, including data manipulation, input and output, and how to implement a Brainfuck compiler in the C programming language.
https://onestepcode.com/brainfuck-compiler-c/
