scribbledecobble: Programming is Poetry in Motion

Allegation

The process of preparing programs for a digital computer is especially attractive,
not only because it can be economically and scientifically rewarding, but also
because it can be an aesthetic experience much like composing poetry or music.

— DONALD ERVIN KNUTH, The Art of Computer Programming (1968)

Prosecuting Witness

Exhibit A

Try Case

/* The Curious Case of P vs. NP */

(function tryCase(penalty) {
  const judge = window,
        declareMistrial = judge.alert;
        jurors = [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12];
  function Jury(jurors) {
    const yesOfCourse = 1,
          absolutelyNot = 0,
          splitDecision = 0.5,
          decisions = {},
          that = this;
    this.size = function() {
      return Object.keys(jurors).length;
    }
    function areEqual(p, np) {
      if (p === np) {
        return areEqual(np, p) ? yesOfCourse : splitDecision;
      }
      else {
        return !areEqual(np, p) ? absolutelyNot : splitDecision;
      }
    }
    this.deliberate = function(p, np) {
      try {
        let n = that.size();
        while (n > 0) {
          n--;
          decisions[n] = areEqual(p, np);
        }
      } catch (exception) {
        throw Error("Hung jury");
      }
      return decisions;
    }
  }
  try {
    const programming = undefined,
          poetry = undefined,
          jury = new Jury(jurors),
          verdict = jury.deliberate(programming, !poetry);
    let previous = undefined;
    for (juror in verdict) {
      current = verdict[juror];
      if (current !== previous && previous !== undefined) {
        throw Error("No consensus.");
      }
      previous = current;
    }
    if (judge.confirm("It's unanimous.")) {
      penalty.execute();
    }
  } catch(exception) {
    declareMistrial(exception.message);
  }
})(this);

scribbledecobble

Pages

Programming is Poetry in Motion

Allegation

Prosecuting Witness

Exhibit A

Try Case

/* Comment */