# INTERCAL

> esoteric programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q1054365](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1054365)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTERCAL)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intercal

## Summary
INTERCAL is an esoteric programming language, classified as a software language not aimed for serious use. Created in 1972, it serves as a parody of programming languages and is fully titled "Compiler Language With No Pronouncable Acronym." It remains a notable historical artifact in computer science for its unique approach to syntax and structure.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception:** INTERCAL was created in 1972.
*   **Classification:** It is an instance of an esoteric programming language and a general programming language.
*   **Full Name:** The name is an acronym for "Compiler Language With No Pronouncable Acronym."
*   **Latest Version:** Version 0.30 was released on April 2, 2015.
*   **Software Distribution:** The language is available via a Debian stable package and a Homebrew formula, both named `intercal`.
*   **Official Website:** Resources and downloads are hosted at `http://www.catb.org/~esr/intercal/`.
*   **Source Description:** It is described by sources such as Esolang and FOLDOC as a language not intended for practical use.
*   **Paradigm:** The programming paradigm is identified as esoteric programming.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the name INTERCAL stand for?
A: The name is a recursive acronym that stands for "Compiler Language With No Pronouncable Acronym."

### Q: Is INTERCAL a practical language for software development?
A: No. As an esoteric programming language, it is explicitly classified as a software language not aimed for serious use.

### Q: When was INTERCAL created?
A: INTERCAL was originally created in 1972.

### Q: Is INTERCAL still maintained?
A: Yes, a version (0.30) was released as recently as April 2, 2015, and it is available through modern package managers like Debian and Homebrew.

## Why It Matters
INTERCAL holds a unique position in the history of computer science as one of the earliest examples of an esoteric programming language. While standard programming languages are designed to maximize efficiency, readability, or utility, INTERCAL was designed with the opposite intent: to be distinct from all other languages and to be difficult to use. Its creation in 1972 marked a satirical critique of the growing complexity and arbitrary nature of contemporary programming language syntax.

Despite its lack of practical application, INTERCAL has endured for decades within the hacker and programming communities. Its significance lies in its role as a cultural artifact that challenges the seriousness of software engineering. It demonstrated that programming languages could be created for artistic, humorous, or intellectual challenges rather than purely functional reasons. This paved the way for the broader "esolang" movement, where users create languages based on absurd logic or extreme constraints. The fact that it is still packaged for modern systems like Debian and Homebrew in 2015 highlights its lasting legacy as a fundamental test of a programmer's patience and a celebrated piece of computing folklore.

## Notable For
*   **Earliest Esoteric Language:** Created in 1972, it is historically significant as a pioneering example of programming satire.
*   **Recursive Naming:** It is famous for its full name, "Compiler Language With No Pronouncable Acronym," which creates a paradox regarding its pronunciation.
*   **Anti-Design Philosophy:** It is distinguished by its deliberate intention to be unlike other languages and "not aimed for serious use."
*   **Modern Availability:** Unlike many obsolete languages, it maintains a presence in modern software repositories (Debian, Homebrew).

## Body

### Origin and Definition
INTERCAL is a compiler language created in 1972. It is broadly classified as a **programming language**—a language for communicating instructions to a machine—but more specifically as an **esoteric programming language**. This subclass is defined as software languages specifically not aimed for serious use.

The name itself is a point of interest; the alias "Compiler Language With No Pronouncable Acronym" suggests that the acronym INTERCAL cannot be pronounced, a common joke within the language's documentation and community.

### Technical Specifications and Availability
While originally an experiment, INTERCAL has seen maintenance and distribution in the modern era.
*   **Current Version:** The most recent recorded version is **0.30**.
*   **Release Date:** This version was made available on **April 2, 2015**.
*   **Download:** The source code is accessible via the tarball link `http://www.catb.org/~esr/intercal/intercal-0.30.tar.gz`.
*   **Package Managers:** Users can install the language using standard tools found in the Debian stable repository (package: `intercal`) and via the Homebrew package manager (formula: `intercal`).

### Documentation and Community
INTERCAL is documented across multiple linguistic and technical platforms.
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** It has Wikipedia entries in over 10 languages, including English, German, French, and Spanish, and maintains a category on Wikimedia Commons.
*   **External Identifiers:** The language is tracked under various database IDs, including a Freebase ID (`/m/03wxr`) and a Quora topic (`Intercal`).
*   **Source References:** The authoritative description is often cited from the Esolang wiki (esolangs.org) and the Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing (FOLDOC).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Quora