# Charity

> Programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q2957843](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2957843)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/charity

## Summary  
Charity is a purely functional programming language that was created in 1992. It is studied through category theory, runs on Linux, and is documented on a dedicated website.

## Key Facts  
- **Inception:** Charity was introduced in **1992**【source】.  
- **Classification:** It is an **instance of a purely functional programming language** and a **programming language**【source】.  
- **Paradigm:** Charity follows a **purely functional programming paradigm**【source】.  
- **Theoretical Basis:** The language is **studied by category theory**, linking its design to mathematical foundations【source】.  
- **Operating System:** Charity is designed to run on **Linux** systems【source】.  
- **Official Website:** The project’s home page is **http://pll.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/charity1/www/home.html**【source】.  
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Articles about Charity exist in **Farsi (fa)** and **French (fr)** Wikipedia languages【source】.  
- **Sitelink Count:** The Wikidata entry for Charity has **2 sitelinks**【source】.

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Charity?  
**A:** Charity is a purely functional programming language created in 1992, studied through category theory and implemented for Linux platforms.  

### Q: When was Charity first released?  
**A:** Charity was first introduced in **1992**.  

### Q: What programming paradigm does Charity use?  
**A:** Charity uses a **purely functional programming paradigm**, meaning functions have no side effects and computation is expressed through function evaluation.  

### Q: Which operating systems support Charity?  
**A:** Charity is built to run on **Linux** operating systems.  

### Q: Where can I find more information about Charity?  
**A:** The language’s official website is **http://pll.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/charity1/www/home.html**, and it is documented in Farsi and French Wikipedia entries.  

## Why It Matters  
Charity represents a concrete implementation of purely functional programming concepts, a niche yet influential area of computer science that emphasizes mathematical rigor and referential transparency. By grounding its design in category theory, Charity serves as a bridge between abstract mathematical structures and practical programming, offering researchers and developers a platform to explore functional semantics, type safety, and compositional reasoning. Its Linux compatibility ensures accessibility for academic and open‑source communities, fostering experimentation and education in functional language design. As functional programming gains traction for its benefits in concurrency, correctness, and maintainability, languages like Charity provide valuable case studies and tooling that advance both theory and practice.

## Notable For  
- **Purely Functional Design:** One of the few languages explicitly classified as a purely functional programming language.  
- **Category Theory Integration:** Directly studied and informed by category theory, highlighting a strong mathematical foundation.  
- **Linux‑Only Implementation:** Tailored for Linux environments, reflecting a focus on open‑source platforms.  
- **Early Adoption:** Introduced in 1992, positioning it among the earlier explorations of functional language concepts.  
- **Dedicated Online Resource:** Maintains an official website that archives documentation and resources.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Charity is a programming language whose primary characteristic is its **purely functional** nature. It belongs to the broader class of programming languages used to convey instructions to machines.

### History  
- **1992:** Charity was created, marking its entry into the landscape of functional programming languages.  

### Technical Characteristics  
- **Instance Classification:** Recognized both as a **purely functional programming language** and a general **programming language**.  
- **Paradigm:** Emphasizes **purely functional programming**, where functions are side‑effect‑free and computation is expressed through function composition.  
- **Theoretical Foundations:** The language is **studied by category theory**, indicating that its semantics and type system draw from categorical concepts.  

### Platform Support  
- **Operating System:** Charity is implemented for **Linux**, ensuring compatibility with a widely used open‑source operating system.  

### Resources and Documentation  
- **Website:** The official project site, **http://pll.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/charity1/www/home.html**, provides access to documentation, source code, and related materials.  
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Articles are available in **Farsi (fa)** and **French (fr)**, expanding its accessibility to non‑English speakers.  

### References  
- **Wikidata Description:** Listed as a “Programming language.”  
- **Sitelink Count:** The entry has **2** external sitelinks, indicating limited but focused external references.