An Invitation to TRICK: How to write weird Ruby programs

An Invitation to TRICK: How to Write Weird Ruby Programs

In this engaging talk presented by Yusuke Endoh at RubyConf 2024, the focus is on the art of writing unconventional Ruby programs. The talk introduces the TRICK contest, which celebrates creativity in programming by rewarding the most unique and bizarre Ruby code submissions.

Key Points Discussed:

Understanding Weird Ruby Programs: The presenter begins by defining what constitutes a weird Ruby program, using examples from past submissions. The abstract of the talk itself serves as a prime illustration of executing Ruby code that outputs its own source code, or a 'Quine'.
Structure and Techniques: Yusuke explains the structure of weird Ruby code, highlighting methods that allow the output of the program to mimic the code itself. He breaks down complex code snippets into understandable parts, explaining how to manipulate code for various outputs.
Winning Entries from TRICK: The presenter shares several award-winning examples from previous TRICK contests:
- Rotating Quine: A program that, when run, rotates its output at angles, illustrating creative coding.
- Animated Fish: A visually striking Ruby program generating an animation of swimming fish, which is executed frame by frame.
- Pangram Sentence: A Ruby program that outputs a complete set of alphabet letters utilizing all printable characters in clever ways.
- All-Ruby Keywords: A unique entry containing all Ruby keywords in a sequence that produces no syntax errors upon execution.
- Anti-Gravity Program: A complex program that manipulates strings by shifting characters based on execution context, showcasing a unique approach to coding.
Techniques for Writing Weird Programs: Throughout the presentation, Yusuke emphasizes techniques such as self-replicating code and quirky implementations to inspire attendees. He encourages the audience to be adventurous with Ruby, pointing out the language's flexibility.
Call for Participation: Yusuke wraps up his presentation by inviting viewers to submit their original Ruby programs for TRICK 2025, providing motivation and reassurance that great ideas can sprout from experimentation.

Main Takeaways:

The TRICK contest provides a platform for innovative and unconventional programming concepts, emphasizing Ruby's versatility.
Deconstructing winning entries can inspire new ideas in coding while fostering a community of creativity among Ruby developers.
Potential participants are encouraged to derive inspiration from the showcased examples and to embrace the unusual in their programming endeavors.

In summary, this talk not only highlights the fun and eccentricity of programming with Ruby but also acts as a catalyst for budding developers to explore the boundaries of their coding skills and creativity.

An Invitation to TRICK: How to write weird Ruby programs
Yusuke Endoh • November 15, 2024 • Chicago, IL • Talk

You don't know truly weird Ruby yet, do you?

TRICK is an irregularly held Ruby programming contest that celebrates the most creative and weird Ruby programs. Among the many submissions, about a dozen particularly exceptional entries are awarded.

Curious about what kind of programs win? It is a code like this, this whole text itself.

';BEGIN{eval$q=%q(def don(e)=e;def You(g)=at_exit{puts"You don'#{g}';BEGIN{eval$q=%q(#$q)};$s=%!#$s!"})};$s=%!
puts %(Nb, lbh unir gb pbcl gur jubyr grkg, sebz "Ybh qba'g xabj" gb gur raq").tr("a-z","n-za-m")

In this talk, we will showcase the winning entries from past TRICK contest and our own weird Ruby code.
We will explore various techniques for writing such programs.
By the end of this talk, you'll be ready to submit your original Ruby creations to TRICK 2025!

RubyConf 2024