Drawing as Programming Language

Abstract

Drawing has always been a powerful tool for humans to communicate information and express themselves. While numerous programming languages have previously been designed to break from the traditional text-based linear approach, the idea of using drawings as a means of computation yet presents many exciting and novel opportunities. This thesis explores some of such possibilities by presenting a series of novel programming languages: λ-2D, a two-dimensional grid-based lambd a calculus derivative that fuses diagrams with free-hand drawings; Nor-wires, a minimalistic, symbol-less language based on NOR gates where semantics are inferred from the topology of lines drawn alone; The Languages of Primitives, where the spatial relationships and inherent properties of fundamental shapes come in play to build programming constructs; as well as other experiments on form and animation that relates drawings to computation. The goal of these experiments is to create unusual, playful, and interesting interactions, to blur the boundaries between art and code, to open up possibilities and to inspire future programming language design, as well as to make computation more accessible Could it be possible that writing a computer program would be as simple as making a drawing?