Literary Aesthetics in Exploratory Programming

The Act of Coding
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-34667-8
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 192 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Reihe: CRC Press Reference Books in Computer Science

This book offers a bold departure from conventional clean code ideals, embracing the aesthetics of early hacker culture and the literary nature of programming. By focusing on the programming mind rather than polished products, it redefines coding as a deeply human act of symbolic exploration. Anchored by a historical case study of Henley, a poetry generator by Paul Graham and Robert Tappan Morris, the book delves into Lisp, hacker culture, and the Markov space of Paradise Lost.

Through its pages, readers will explore an alternative programming aesthetic that challenges industrial norms. The book examines the roots, theory, and culture of Henley, offering a unique lens on programming as an art form. It invites readers to engage with true hackers, navigate the intricacies of Lisp, and trace the poetic possibilities of code. This is not just a technical exploration but a philosophical journey into the creative potential of programming. Key features include a redefinition of coding as targeting the mind, a detailed case study of Henley, and a celebration of programming as a humanistic endeavor.

This book is ideal for experienced programmers from fields like computer science, software engineering, data science, free software, or digital humanities. It also appeals to students and curious minds seeking to transcend traditional programming paradigms and rediscover the joy of creative complexity.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Professional Reference

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mehrstam, Christian

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Informatik Künstliche Intelligenz
• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Lehrerausbildung, Unterricht & Didaktik Allgemeine Didaktik
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Programmierung | Softwareentwicklung Programmierung: Methoden und Allgemeines
• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik EDV & Informatik Allgemein EDV & Informatik: Geschichte
• Mathematik | Informatik Mathematik Numerik und Wissenschaftliches Rechnen Optimierung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Just Like a Book. 2. Symbolic Ascent. 3. (Coding) Theory. 4. The Henley Program. 5. Hacked Poetry. 6. Prismatic Code. 7. Complexity Regained.

Über Autor(innen)

Christian Mehrstam is an associate professor at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His research deals with the potential for transformation in different media, ranging from programming to poetry, games, comics and science fiction. He wrote his thesis on text theory and second order cybernetics, and teaches literature, code history and algorithmic criticism.