# Golem

> creative work by Nick Montfort

**Wikidata**: [Q132221302](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132221302)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/golem

## Summary
**Golem** is a creative work and software application authored by Nick Montfort. Published in 2021, it is distributed as printed matter and classified as both a piece of literature and an application designed for end-users. The work is written in English and utilizes the programming language identified by Wikidata ID Q42478.

## Key Facts
- **Author:** Nick Montfort.
- **Publication Date:** 2021.
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Application (software program).
- **Distribution Format:** Printed matter.
- **ISBN-13:** 978-1-716-30738-6.
- **Language:** English.
- **ELMCIP ID:** 15979.
- **Programming Language:** Q42478 (Wikidata ID).
- **Wikidata Description:** Creative work by Nick Montfort.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of work is Golem?
A: Golem is classified as both a creative work and a software application. It is distributed physically as printed matter rather than solely as a digital file.

### Q: Who is the author of Golem?
A: The author of Golem is Nick Montfort, a creator known for digital poetics and interactive fiction.

### Q: When was Golem published?
A: Golem was published in 2021. It carries the ISBN-13 978-1-716-30738-6.

## Why It Matters
Golem represents a convergence of software engineering and literary art, existing simultaneously as a functional application and a creative expression. By distributing a software program via printed matter, the work challenges conventional delivery methods for code, suggesting that executable logic can be treated as a tangible publication. This approach aligns with the traditions of code poetry and computational literature, where the code itself serves as a medium of artistic expression.

The work is significant in the field of electronic literature as it blurs the distinction between the "tool" (an application for end-users) and the "text" (a creative work). Its inclusion in databases such as ELMCIP (ID 15979) underscores its relevance to scholars studying the intersection of computing and the humanities. Golem exemplifies how specific programming languages (here identified by Wikidata ID Q42478) can be harnessed to produce works that are both executable and aesthetically distinct.

## Notable For
- **Hybrid Classification:** Distinguished as both a "creative work" and a functional "application" (software program).
- **Physical Distribution:** Notable for utilizing "printed matter" as the distribution format for a software program.
- **Authorship:** Created by Nick Montfort, a prominent figure in computational media and digital literature.
- **Formal Recognition:** Assigned a standard ISBN (978-1-716-30738-6), treating the software as a formally published book or volume.

## Body

### Authorship and Publication
Golem was created by Nick Montfort and published in 2021. The work is formally cataloged with an ISBN-13 (978-1-716-30738-6), indicating its status as a published entity within the literary and academic market. It is indexed in the Electronic Literature as a Model for Creativity and Innovation in Practice (ELMCIP) knowledge base under ID 15979.

### Nature and Format
The entity is uniquely defined by its dual classification:
*   **Creative Work:** It functions as a piece of literature or art.
*   **Application:** It is a software program or group of programs designed for end-users.

While typically software is distributed digitally, Golem is explicitly noted as having a distribution format of "printed matter." This suggests a physical artifact containing the code or the essence of the application, bridging the gap between traditional book publishing and software release.

### Technical Specifications
The work is composed in the English language. The underlying code relies on a specific programming language identified in academic sources by the Wikidata identifier Q42478. As an application, it falls under the broad class of software designed for direct interaction with users.