# The Truelist

> creative work by Nick Montfort

**Wikidata**: [Q132204608](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132204608)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-truelist

## Summary
The Truelist is a creative work and software application authored by Nick Montfort, categorized within the genres of generative literature and digital poetry. Published in 2017, the project is written in the Python programming language and is distributed as both a web page and printed matter.

## Key Facts
- **Author:** Nick Montfort
- **Publication Date:** 2017
- **Genres:** Generative literature, Digital poetry
- **Instance of:** Creative work, Application (Software)
- **Programming Language:** Python
- **ISBN-13:** 978-1-933996-63-9
- **OCLC Number:** 991535978
- **ELMCIP ID:** 13009
- **Distribution Formats:** Web page, Printed matter
- **Language:** English

## FAQs
### Q: What type of work is The Truelist?
A: The Truelist is classified as both a creative work and a software application. It is specifically recognized as a piece of generative literature and digital poetry.

### Q: Who created The Truelist and when was it published?
A: The work was authored by Nick Montfort and was published in 2017.

### Q: What technology was used to create The Truelist?
A: The Truelist was developed using the Python general-purpose programming language.

### Q: In what formats is The Truelist available?
A: The work is distributed in two distinct formats: as a web page and as printed matter.

## Why It Matters
The Truelist serves as a significant example of the intersection between computer science and literary arts, specifically within the fields of generative literature and digital poetry. By utilizing Python—a general-purpose programming language typically used for software development—to generate literary text, the work challenges traditional boundaries between technical functionality and creative expression. Its dual classification as both an "application" and a "creative work" highlights the evolving nature of authorship in the digital age.

The project is notable for its hybrid distribution model, existing simultaneously as a dynamic web page and as traditional printed matter. This duality allows the work to be experienced both as an executable software process and as a static physical object. Furthermore, its inclusion in academic journals and databases (indicated by its ELMCIP ID and OCLC number) underscores its relevance in scholarly discussions regarding electronic literature and computational creativity.

## Notable For
- Being a dual-instance entity: recognized as both a software application and a creative literary work.
- Utilizing Python for the specific purpose of generating literary art.
- bridging digital and physical media through distribution as both a web page and printed matter.
- Contributing to the generative literature and digital poetry genres.

## Body

### Authorship and Classification
The Truelist is a creative work authored by Nick Montfort. It holds a unique classification in knowledge bases as an "instance of" both a creative work and an application. This reflects its nature as an executable piece of software that produces literary output. The work is written entirely in the English language.

### Publication and Identification
The work was published in 2017. It is cataloged in several academic and library systems:
- **ISBN-13:** 978-1-933996-63-9
- **OCLC Number:** 991535978
- **ELMCIP ID:** 13009
The publication context is noted as an academic journal.

### Technical Composition
The software underlying The Truelist is built using Python, a general-purpose programming language. In the context of this work, Python is used to drive the generative processes that define the genre of the piece. The work fits into the literary genres of generative literature and digital poetry.

### Access and Distribution
The Truelist is made available to end-users through multiple channels. It is accessible online as a web page, functioning as a digital application. Additionally, it is distributed as printed matter, providing a physical artifact of the generative text.