# So Random

> creative work by Shawn Rider

**Wikidata**: [Q132198881](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132198881)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/so-random-q132198881

## Summary
"So Random" is a work of electronic literature and fiction created by author Shawn Rider. Published in 2005, it is a software application distributed via web page that utilizes the PHP scripting language. The work is recognized in academic circles and is indexed in the Electronic Literature Knowledge Base.

## Key Facts
- **Author:** Shawn Rider
- **Publication Date:** 2005
- **Genre:** Electronic literature, Fiction
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Application (software)
- **Programming Language:** PHP
- **Distribution Format:** Web page
- **Language:** English
- **Published In:** Academic journal
- **Identifier:** ELMCIP ID 4278

## FAQs
### Q: Who created So Random?
A: So Random was created by Shawn Rider. It is classified as a creative work and an application.

### Q: What programming language was used to create So Random?
A: The work was built using PHP, a scripting language focused on web development.

### Q: When was So Random published?
A: So Random was published in 2005. It appeared in an academic journal.

### Q: What type of media is So Random?
A: So Random is a work of electronic literature distributed as a web page application. It is written in English.

## Why It Matters
"So Random" represents a specific intersection of creative writing and software development within the field of electronic literature. Published in 2005, the work serves as an example of how early web technologies were repurposed for artistic and fictional ends. By utilizing PHP—a scripting language generally associated with server-side web development—Rider elevated a utilitarian coding tool into a medium for storytelling.

The piece is significant for its dual classification as both a "creative work" and an "application," highlighting the blurred lines between software utility and artistic expression in the digital age. Its publication in an academic journal and inclusion in the ELMCIP Knowledge Base (ID 4278) underscores its relevance to scholars studying the evolution of digital humanities and web-based fiction. It stands as a historical marker of the mid-2000s era of net.art and electronic literature, demonstrating the shift toward browser-based interactive experiences.

## Notable For
- **Dual Classification:** Distinctively categorized as both a work of fiction and a software application.
- **Technological Medium:** Utilizes PHP for creative literary expression rather than strictly functional web development.
- **Academic Recognition:** Included in the Electronic Literature Knowledge Base (ELMCIP) and published in an academic journal context.
- **Web-Based Distribution:** Distributed as a web page, making it accessible via standard browsers during the early web 2.0 era.

## Body
### Overview and Authorship
"So Random" is a creative work authored by Shawn Rider. It is formally classified as an electronic literature piece and fiction. The work is written in the English language.

### Technical Specifications
The work functions as a software application designed for end-users. It relies on the PHP scripting language for its operation. PHP, which was created in 1995, is typically used for web development; in this context, it serves as the foundation for the creative output. The distribution format for "So Random" is a web page.

### Publication and Legacy
"So Random" was published in 2005. The venue for publication was an academic journal. The work is cataloged in the Electronic Literature Knowledge Base under the identifier 4278.