When learning a new programming language, and I've done this more than once, there are certain steps that I typically take in the process. I like to poke around the language web site and then read the getting started tutorials. If I like what I see and it fits my definition of an esoteric programming language, I'll install it and try my hand at some examples from the tutorials and the classic hello, world program.

These steps seem to be fairly normal for geeks like me and certainly the writing of a hello, world program is enshrined in programming lore and tradition. What is less clear is the recommended path to take after that. Some people complete tutorials, others buy books and work through them and then some dive in and work on a project so they can learn as they go. None of these are bad approaches, but I think that there needs to be something between working through tutorials or books and the big project for learning.

To this end, may I suggest the concept of Learning Projects? This involves writing a series of programs of increasing complexity that incrementally explore the capabilities of the language. I'm looking at replicating a select number of the traditional Unix tools, starting with the simpler ones and expanding from there.

The past week has been fun and satisfying. There were a few challenges, but the end result was good, so let's celebrate by recapping the good things with a selection of photographs.

Watching the Madison fireworks.

Perhaps you don't ask yourself such questions, but I find myself pondering the nature of esoteric programming languages. I wonder what makes a programming language esoteric. I wonder whether there is a benchmark by which we can know such a thing. Does a mention on Lambda-The-Ultimate secure the status of esoteric? How many users can an esoteric programming language have before it is no longer esoteric? How many books can be written about it before it takes on the veneer of being mainstream? I don't think anyone knows. I certainly don't know. I need to arrive at a definition of esoteric programming languages.

How does one begin deriving a definition for such things? Perhaps I could start by saying that esoteric programming languages are those which are not mainstream? That sounds nice, but then, at the top end, how do I define mainstream and at the bottom end, how do I differentiate between experimental programming languages and esoteric programming languages? A tricky conundrum.

At the bottom end of the scale, how many users does an experimental programming language need to graduate to esoteric? On the other hand, does it get any more esoteric than a programming language with exactly one user and that being the language designer and implementor? I suspect not.

Faith is interesting. It is many layered, with great depth to it if you care to spend enough time thinking about it. Some mix it up with grace or belief and consider them all of a similar thing. And while that may be close enough for teaching Sunday School children, it has its own distinct nature that rewards further investigation.

A definition would be useful at this point. If we are to speak of something, then knowing whereof we speak is always appropriate. Definitions of faith abound. Webster's Dictionary is always a good place to start, so let's see what they say:

Faith: allegiance to duty or a person; loyalty ... belief and trust in and loyalty to God ... something that is believed especially with a strong conviction.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 16:19

There are eight references to the word "key" or "keys" in the scripture. Three of these refer to literal keys and the other five refer to power and authority. The keys that Jesus spoke of to Peter were those of authority. Very few doors had locks on them in bible times, so Jesus was not handing Peter a literal bunch of jangling keys. Jesus was giving Peter the authority to unlock the entrance of heaven.

The keys to the kingdom of heaven were granted to Peter because of his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. The Lord had asked his disciples who men thought he was and got a variety of answers, but none were right. So, Jesus then asked them who they thought he was. With no hesitation, Peter spoke up and declared the Jesus was the Christ. That he was the Messiah that they had all been waiting for.