“PIET”

History and Background:

Piet is a unique programming language that stands out because

it doesn't use text like most other programming languages.
Instead, Piet programs look like abstract art, made up of
colorful images. It was created by David Morgan-Mar in 2001.
The language is named after the Dutch painter Piet Mondrian,
famous for his colorful abstract art, which is a fitting
reference given the visual nature of Piet programs. The idea
behind Piet was to create a language that looks like art and
also challenges the typical way we think about programming. It
was a playful experiment, showing that programming could be
both creative and visually engaging.

The main reason David Morgan-Mar developed Piet was to explore

the boundaries of what a programming language could be.
Traditional programming languages use words and numbers to
write code, but Piet flips this idea on its head. In Piet, the
flow of the program is controlled by how the colors change and
connect, making it a language that is as much about visual
design as it is about logic. This makes Piet a fascinating
example of how programming can be an artistic expression, as
well as a technical skill. It's not a language you would use
for practical applications, but it has gained attention for
its creativity and its ability to inspire people to think
differently about programming. Some say the language is
interesting because instead of typing, you create PNG files
that the interpreter runs as if they were code. Program code
will be in the form of abstract art.
Syntax and Structure:

Key Syntax Rules in Piet:

Piet is a unique, visual programming language where the code
is an image made of colored blocks. Here’s a breakdown of the
key syntax rules:

Codels:

The basic unit in Piet is called a "codel." Each codel is a

square of color in the image, and the program’s flow is
determined by the sequence and transitions of these codels.
Example: A single codel might be a red square. Moving from a
red to a yellow codel could trigger a specific command.

Colors and Transitions:

Piet uses 18 distinct colors split into six color groups
(light, normal, dark) and three hues (red, yellow, green,
cyan, blue, magenta). The transition from one color to another
determines the command to execute.

Example: Moving from a light red to a normal red might push a

number onto the stack. Changing from a dark green to a light
blue might pop a value from the stack.

Direction Pointer (DP):

The Direction Pointer (DP) controls the direction in which the

interpreter moves through the codels. It can move right, left,
up, or down. The DP starts by moving to the right.
Example: If the DP encounters a wall or the edge of the image,
it will change direction according to specific rules.

Codel Chooser (CC):

The Codel Chooser (CC) decides the direction the DP should

turn when it encounters a boundary. The CC toggles between
left and right.

Example: If the DP hits a boundary, the CC will determine

whether it turns left or right.
Stack Operations:
Piet uses a stack to store data. Common operations include
pushing values onto the stack, popping values off the stack,
and performing arithmetic or logical operations on the values.

Example: A sequence of color transitions might add, subtract,

or compare values on the stack.
Simple Example: "Hello, World!" Program
In Piet, a "Hello, World!" program would push the ASCII values
of the characters in "Hello, World!" onto the stack and then
output them in sequence.

Understanding the Program Flow:

Push ASCII Values: Each character in "Hello, World!" is

converted to its ASCII value and pushed onto the stack in
reverse order.
Example: The ASCII value for 'H' (72) is pushed first,
followed by 'e' (101), and so on, until '!' (33) is pushed
last.

Output Characters: The program then pops each value from the
stack and outputs it as a character.

Example: The values on the stack are output in reverse order,

producing "Hello, World!".
Visual Example:
Since Piet programs are images, the "Hello, World!" program
would look like an abstract painting with different colored
blocks arranged in a specific order.

Start Block: A light red block might start the process.

Push Values: A sequence of color transitions that represent
each ASCII value being pushed onto the stack.
Output Command: A sequence that outputs each value as a
character.
End Block: The program finishes after all characters are
output.

Conclusion:

Piet’s syntax is all about how colors transition and interact

in a visual space. While it may seem complex, it’s essentially
a set of rules that guide how the program flows, manipulates
the stack, and produces output based on the arrangement and
color of blocks in the image. Understanding Piet requires
thinking in terms of visual patterns rather than traditional
text-based code.

Unique Features:

Unique Paradigms of Piet:

Piet adheres to several unique programming paradigms, notably

esoteric, imperative, scalar, and stack-oriented paradigms.
Unlike conventional programming languages like object-oriented
and functional programming, which structure code around
objects/classes and emphasize function application, Piet
utilizes visual representations, where the programming
constructs resemble abstract art composed of color blocks that
signify commands.

Memory Management in Piet:

Piet employs a stack-based memory management system akin to

many traditional programming languages. However, it lacks more
complex features typically available in higher-level
languages, such as explicit memory allocation and
deallocation. Data in Piet exists solely as integers, stored
in a stack deemed notionally infinite, although actual
implementations may limit the maximum stack size.

Limited Library and Framework Availability:

The available libraries and frameworks for Piet, such as npiet

and PietPlus, enable developers to create and experiment with
programs, albeit its ecosystem remains comparatively limited.
This is in stark contrast to more conventional programming
languages that provide extensive libraries, frameworks, and
dedicated community support for varied applications.

Design Philosophy and Artistic Integration:

Piet’s design philosophy emphasizes visual aesthetics,

transforming programming into a form of abstract art where
commands are encoded through color transitions. This artistic
aspect differentiates Piet from traditional text-based
programming languages, focusing on aesthetics and creative
expression rather than merely functional programming.

Interactive Characteristics:

Piet allows for active engagement through programming by

visually composing and executing functions, thus making the
coding process more dynamic as compared to conventional
methods. This accessibility to design visually appealing code
adds a unique layer of interaction that is seldom found in
standard programming languages.

Use Cases:

Piet, being an esoteric programming language, is primarily

used in niche areas rather than practical, real-world
applications. Its primary uses include:

1.Educational and Experimental Use: Piet is often used in

academic settings and programming challenges to explore
unconventional programming concepts and teach creativity in
coding. It's employed in programming contests and educational
tools to illustrate how programming can be approached
differently.

2.Art and Creative Coding: Piet is used by artists and

hobbyists to create visually interesting and abstract
programs, blending art with code. It’s used to produce art
pieces and visual experiments that explore the intersection of
programming and artistic expression.
3.Programming Contests and Challenges: Piet is featured in
coding competitions and puzzles where participants are
challenged to create functioning programs using its unique
visual syntax. These contests highlight the language’s role in
pushing the boundaries of traditional programming.

These examples illustrate that Piet is mostly utilized in

niche areas focused on creativity, education, and programming
challenges rather than mainstream industrial applications.

Strengths and Weaknesses:

Advantages of Piet

- Piet offers unique advantages in artistic expression and

education, combining programming with visual art. Programs in
Piet resemble abstract paintings, enabling creative coding
that merges computation with artistry. This visual appeal can
captivate learners and encourage engagement with programming
concepts that might otherwise feel abstract or challenging.

- The language is valuable in educational contexts as it

serves as an unconventional tool to illustrate programming
logic and concepts. Students can explore logic and
abstractions through a visually stimulating medium, fostering
creative thinking and enhancing their problem-solving skills.

- Piet programs can challenge conventional programming

paradigms, encouraging developers to think differently about
how to execute commands and manipulate data. This exploration
can lead to a deeper understanding of programming fundamentals
and inspire innovative thinking.

Limitations of Piet
- Despite its creative aspects, Piet is primarily an esoteric
programming language that lacks practical usability for
standard programming tasks. Its abstract nature makes it
unsuitable for performance-critical applications. As a result,
developers may find it challenging to implement it in
real-world projects where efficiency and reliability are
paramount.

- The performance of Piet can be uneven, especially across

various implementations of the language. Developers may
encounter undefined behaviors during execution, particularly
with operations that are not clearly specified within the
language's design. Furthermore, managing stack size
limitations and integer representations can complicate the
development process.

- Debugging in Piet presents significant challenges due to its

visual representation and non-traditional command execution.
Identifying errors in abstract paintings can be more
labor-intensive compared to standard text-based programming
languages. Consequently, the difficulty in debugging and
troubleshooting can deter developers from using Piet in any
substantive way.

Comparison chart highlighting key differences between Piet and

two other programming languages from different paradigms:Go
and Ruby
Summary of Each Language:

Piet is an exotic stack-based language that represents

instructions using color blocks. It is mostly used for
creative expression and teaching, rather than actual
programming problems.

Go is a procedural and concurrent language created by Google.

It is well-known for its simplicity, efficiency, and strong
concurrency support, making it suitable for system development
and network service delivery.

Ruby is an object-oriented, dynamic programming language

renowned for its readability and versatility. Ruby is widely
used in web development, particularly with the Ruby on Rails
framework, as well as for automation and scripting purposes.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Piet_%28programming_language%29&redirect=no
https://www.dangermouse.net/esoteric/piet.html#:~:text=Piet%20is%20a%20progra
mming%20language,rather%20mundane%2Dlooking%20scripting%20language.
joshmfrancis/Hello-World-in-Piet: Esoteric Programming
Languages,https://github.com/joshmfrancis/Hello-World-in-Piet
Progopedia - Encyclopedia of Programming Languages,
http://progopedia.com/language/piet/
Esolang, https://esolangs.org/wiki/Piet
Piet, a programming language in which programs look like abstract ...,
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21913483
Interpreter - Interpreter for the Piet programming language,
https://metacpan.org/pod/Piet::Interpreter
Piet - DM's Esoteric Programming Languages - dangermouse.net,
https://www.dangermouse.net/esoteric/piet.html
DM's Esoteric Programming Languages - Piet Samples,
https://www.dangermouse.net/esoteric/piet/samples.html?ref=blog.jenningsga.co
m
Processing Piet - Wild Peaches, https://wildpeaches.xyz/blog/processing-piet/
An interpreter with syscalls for the piet programming language.,
https://github.com/glacambre/piet
Piet - Esolang, https://esolangs.org/wiki/Piet
00 What is Piet? - GC Wizard,
https://blog.gcwizard.net/manual/en/piet-esoteric-programming-languages/00-wh
at-is-piet/
Piet - Progopedia - Encyclopedia of Programming Languages,
http://progopedia.com/language/piet/
Piet - DM's Esoteric Programming Languages - dangermouse.net,
https://www.dangermouse.net/esoteric/piet.html
https://dev.to/gyauelvis/esoteric-languages-what-are-they-and-why-you-should-
be-concerned-592d#:~:text=What%20are%20Esoteric%20Languages%3F,languages%20de
velopers%20are%20used%20to.
00 What is Piet? - GC Wizard,
https://blog.gcwizard.net/manual/en/piet-esoteric-programming-languages/00-wh
at-is-piet/
Piet, a programming language in which programs look like abstract ...,
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21913483
Piet - Progopedia - Encyclopedia of Programming Languages,
http://progopedia.com/language/piet/
Top 10 Truly Bizarre Programming Languages - Listverse,
https://listverse.com/2011/02/17/top-10-truly-bizarre-programming-languages/
Interpreter for Piet Programming Language - GitHub,
https://github.com/your-diary/piet_programming_language
[Esoteric Programming Languages (Esolangs)](https://esolangs.org/wiki/Piet )
provides information on various uses and educational contexts for Piet.
[Piet Programming Language Art](https://www.piet.com ) showcases examples of
Piet being used for artistic purposes and creative projects.
[International Obfuscated C Code Contest (IOCCC)](http://www.ioccc.org )
sometimes features esoteric languages like Piet in its challenges, showcasing
their use in creative programming contests.
https://chatgpt.com/c/de64b973-9db5-42fa-888a-ab14bbe56823