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HQ9+ is a joke programming language that consists of only four commands, each represented by a single character: H, Q, 9, and +. It is not Turing-complete, but it is highly efficient at certain types of programs.1 List of Commands
- The H command prints the text " Hello World!"
- The Q command prints a copy of the program's source code (otherwise known as a quine).
- The 9 command prints the complete lyrics to " 99 Bottles of Beer."
- The + command increments the accumulator.
1.1 Examples
Input: H
Output: Hello World!
Input: HQ
Output:
Hello World!
HQ
Input: Q+Q+Q+
Output:
Q+Q+Q+
Q+Q+Q+
Q+Q+Q+
This program would also increment the accumulator three times. Note that a program containing anything more than + statements and a single Q statement prints more than its source code once and is not a true quine.
2 Purpose
HQ9+ is, of course, a joke language. Each of the commands represents a programming exercise that is often given to students or novices for practice. In some programming languages, these exercises can be quite tricky, but in HQ9+ they are trivial. However, for any program other than one of these exercises, the language is essentially useless.
3 External links
HQ9+ Home page
