Released in 2007, LOLCODE was inspired by lolspeak, a language expressed in examples of the lolcat Internet memes, which were image macros of one or more cats with intentionally grammatically incorrect text, known as lolspeak.
Adam Lindsay, a researcher at the Computing Department of Lancaster University in Lancaster, England, created the language.
LOLCODE is an esoteric programming language that combines humor, Internet memes, and code. Taking a playful approach to programming, its syntax and design are intentionally quirky. For example, the code for a "Hello World" program looks like this:
HAI 1.2
VISIBLE "Hello World"
KTHXBYE
In LOLCODE, programs start with HAI, followed by the LOLCODE version, and end with KTHXBYE. To print something, use VISIBLE.
In lolspeak, HAI can be thought of as meaning "Hi," and is used to introduce the program, followed by the version, VISIBLE prints the message to the screen, and KTHXBYE is "K," "THX," and "BYE" all strung together, which, in lolspeak, means "OK, thanks, bye."
While the semantics of LOLCODE are not unusual, its syntax mimics informal speech and Internet slang, making it stand out. Unlike traditional programming languages, LOLCODE embraces the absurdity of Internet culture. Its primary influence is the lolcat meme phenomenon, where the images of cats are overlaid with humorous captions in broken English. The language mirrors the playful, nonsensical tone of these memes.
LOLCODE shares some traits with other esoteric languages. Like Whitespace, LOLCODE ignores indentation and spaces. Its strangeness is reminiscent of Brainfuck and Befunge.
LOLCODE was created for fun and educational purposes, and is without real-world applications in serious software development.
The programming language known as LOLCODE is the focus of this portion of our guide to computer programming languages.
Recommended Resources
Code, Create, and Learn Together with LOLCODE
Available on Replit, an online platform that allows users to code, collaborate, compile, run, share, and deploy programs in various programming languages, including LOLCODE. It includes an online compiler and interpreter, supports real-time collaboration, and deployment directly from the platform. Replit provides basic features for free, although premium plans offer additional features, as well as specialized packages for educational institutions and teams.
https://replit.com/languages/lolcode
Esolangs is dedicated to esoteric programming languages, which are intentionally designed to be quirky, unconventional, and often impractical. Its section on the LOLCODE programming language describes the general-purpose programming language inspired by the kitty pidgin language of the lolcat phenomenon. It covers the language's keywords, functions, and types and offers example codes of programs written in LOLCODE, as well as criticisms of the language.
https://esolangs.org/wiki/LOLCODE
JDoodle provides an online editor and IDE for LOLCODE, a humorous and esoteric programming language. Users can write and execute LOLCODE programs directly in the browser, and can upload files when needed for the program. Areas are provided for input and output, allowing for interaction with the code. LOLCODES written here can be shared with others by saving them online. Featuring a user-friendly interface, the online editor aims to make coding in LOLCODE accessible and fun.
https://www.jdoodle.com/execute-lolcode-online/
Presented by Code Academy, an online platform focused on coding, this course is free, with a certificate of completion included with paid plans. Recommended for programmers at the Intermediate level, the course is intended to take one hour to complete. This is a mini-course on an esoteric programming language, LOLCODE, inspired by the old lolcats Internet memes. It is a real programming language with catchphrases in place of traditional programming keywords.
https://www.codecademy.com/learn/learn-lolcode
LOLCODE is an esoteric programming language inspired by lolspeak, from the lolcat Internet meme. Its syntax comes from the heavily compressed patois of lolcats, and, while it lacks clear operator priorities and correct syntax, several functioning interpreters and compilers exist. Instructions for getting and installing the language are provided, along with links to its language repositories, interpreter, developer community forum, and mailing list, and contacts.
http://www.lolcode.org/
Hosted on dCode.fr, an online platform that offers tools to assist with solving various challenges, this section of the site features LOLCODE, an esoteric programming language created in 2007 by Adam Lindsay, a researcher at the Computing Department of Lancaster University. dCode is free, and its tools are useful in games, math, geocaching, puzzles, and problems to solve each day. LOLCODE is defined, and several of its keywords are listed, with their equivalencies.
https://www.dcode.fr/lolcode-language
LOLCODE Tutorial: A programming language for cat lovers
Published on Lokalise, a localization and translation management platform designed for agile teams, this article discusses LOLCODE, an esoteric programming language that emerged as a fun experiment inspired by lolcats, image macros featuring cats with humorous texts containing intentional grammar errors referred to as lolspeak, or catspeak. The language is whimsical, and not meant for serious development. The language is introduced, with installation instructions and code.
https://lokalise.com/blog/lolcode-tutorial-on-programming-language-for-cat-lovers/
Tutorials Point: Lolcode Tutorial
Tutorials Point is an online learning platform covering a wide range of educational resources, including the LOLCODE programming language. The tutorial is intended for people who want to explore beyond more traditional programming syntax. Readers of this tutorial can learn the LOLCODE programming language in simple and easy ways, although it does assume prior familiarity with programming languages. LOLCODE is an esoteric language inspired by funny things on the Internet.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/lolcode/
