# Pike

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q1572341](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1572341)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/pike

## Summary  
Pike is a free, multi‑paradigm programming language created in 1994. It blends object‑oriented, functional and procedural styles, supports both static and dynamic typing, and runs on Unix‑like systems as well as Microsoft Windows.

## Key Facts  
- **Inception:** Pike was first released in **1994**【inception】.  
- **Classification:** It is an **object‑based, dynamic, multi‑paradigm programming language**【instance_of】.  
- **Typing:** Pike supports **static typing, dynamic typing, and manifest typing**【typing_discipline】.  
- **Licensing:** Distributed under the **GNU GPL, GNU LGPL, and Mozilla Public License**【license】.  
- **Platforms:** Runs on **Unix‑like operating systems** and **Microsoft Windows**【Runs on / Requires】.  
- **Latest stable release:** **8.0.1116**, published on **24 December 2020**【version (preferred)】.  
- **Heritage:** Based on the **LPMud** codebase and **influenced by LPC**【based_on, influenced_by】.  
- **Source repository:** Hosted at **git://pike-git.lysator.liu.se/pike.git**【source_code_repository_url】.  
- **Official website:** https://pike.lysator.liu.se/【website】.  
- **Logo:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Pike_Programming_Language_Logo.svg【logo】.

## FAQs  
### Q: What kind of language is Pike?  
A: Pike is a **multi‑paradigm programming language** that combines object‑oriented, functional, and procedural programming styles, and it supports both static and dynamic typing.

### Q: Which operating systems can run Pike?  
A: Pike runs on **Unix‑like operating systems** (e.g., Linux, macOS) and on **Microsoft Windows**.

### Q: Is Pike open‑source and under what license?  
A: Yes. Pike is released under **multiple free licenses**: the GNU General Public License, the GNU Lesser General Public License, and the Mozilla Public License.

### Q: What is the most recent stable version of Pike?  
A: The latest stable version is **8.0.1116**, released on **24 December 2020**.

### Q: Where can I obtain Pike’s source code?  
A: The source code is available via Git at **git://pike-git.lysator.liu.se/pike.git**.

## Why It Matters  
Pike occupies a unique niche among programming languages by offering a blend of paradigms that lets developers choose the most suitable style for a given task—whether that’s object‑oriented design, functional composition, or straightforward procedural code. Its dual typing system (static and dynamic) provides flexibility: developers can write quick scripts with dynamic typing while still benefiting from compile‑time checks when needed. Originating from the LPMud and LPC ecosystems, Pike bridges the gap between MUD‑style scripting and general‑purpose development, making it valuable for both legacy game servers and modern applications. Its cross‑platform support and permissive licensing encourage adoption in diverse environments, from embedded systems to large‑scale servers. By maintaining an active release cadence (latest stable release in 2020) and a publicly accessible Git repository, Pike remains a viable tool for developers seeking a lightweight yet powerful language.

## Notable For  
- **Multi‑paradigm design:** Integrates object‑oriented, functional, and procedural programming in a single language.  
- **Hybrid typing:** Offers static, dynamic, and manifest typing, allowing fine‑grained control over type safety.  
- **MUD heritage:** Built on the LPMud codebase and influenced by LPC, giving it strong roots in interactive server scripting.  
- **Cross‑platform availability:** Runs natively on both Unix‑like systems and Windows without modification.  
- **Triple‑license model:** Distributed under GPL, LGPL, and MPL, providing flexibility for various open‑source projects.

## Body  

### Overview  
Pike is a **free, object‑based programming language** designed for flexibility and performance. It is classified as a **dynamic programming language** and a **multi‑paradigm language**, supporting a wide range of programming styles.

### History  
- **1994:** Pike was created, drawing heavily from the **LPMud** server code.  
- **Influences:** The language was directly **influenced by LPC**, a language used for MUD development.  

### Language Features  

#### Paradigms  
- **Object‑oriented programming** (OOP) – classes, inheritance, and polymorphism.  
- **Functional programming** – first‑class functions and higher‑order constructs.  
- **Procedural programming** – traditional function‑based code flow.  

#### Typing Discipline  
- **Static typing** – compile‑time type checking for performance‑critical code.  
- **Dynamic typing** – runtime type flexibility for rapid prototyping.  
- **Manifest typing** – explicit type declarations that can be checked at compile time.  

#### Licensing  
Pike is released under three compatible open‑source licenses: **GNU GPL**, **GNU LGPL**, and **Mozilla Public License**. This multi‑license approach enables both strict copyleft and more permissive usage scenarios.

### Platform Support  
- **Unix‑like operating systems:** Linux, BSD, macOS, etc.  
- **Microsoft Windows:** Full native support since its early releases.  

### Development and Release History  

| Version | Release Date | Notes |
|---------|--------------|-------|
| 7.8.866 | 25 June 2014 | Early stable branch |
| 8.0.276 | 11 July 2016 | Major feature updates |
| 8.0.388 | 2 January 2017 | Bug‑fix release |
| 8.0.702 | 1 November 2018 | Marked **stable** |
| **8.0.1116** | **24 December 2020** | Current **stable** version (preferred) |

All releases are announced on the official news archive and indexed in the project’s XML feed.

### Ecosystem  

- **Source repository:** `git://pike-git.lysator.liu.se/pike.git` (mirrored publicly).  
- **Package managers:** Available as **AUR** (`pike`), **MacPorts** (`pike`), **Homebrew** (`pike`), and **Debian/Ubuntu** (`pike`).  
- **File formats:** Pike source code files use the extension **`.pike`** for both reading and writing.  

### Community & Documentation  
The official website hosts documentation, tutorials, and a news archive. The language’s design encourages contributions under its permissive licensing model.

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Pike",
  "description": "A free, multi-paradigm programming language created in 1994 that supports object-oriented, functional, and procedural styles with both static and dynamic typing.",
  "url": "https://pike.lysator.liu.se/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15777",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(programming_language)"
  ],
  "additionalType": "ProgrammingLanguage"
}

## References

1. [News announcements 2018](https://pike.lysator.liu.se/about/news/archive/2018/)
2. [Source](https://pike.lysator.liu.se/index.xml)
3. [News announcements 2020](https://pike.lysator.liu.se/about/news/archive/2020/)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20140725093352/https://www.drdobbs.com/open-source/pike-programming-language/240168647)