XmasMagic.pas: Least Likely to Compile Successfully (Yet It Does)

[Aruna]

The attached program exists. Whether it should exist is a separate discussion.

The code is a single line as shown below. A rather long line ...

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. program magic;{$mode objfpc}{$H+}uses SysUtils,Base64;const A:array[1..12]of string=('QSBQYXJ0cmlkZ2UgaW4gYSBQZWFyIFRyZWU=','VHdvIFR1cnRsZSBEb3Zlcw==','VGhyZWUgRnJlbmNoIEhlbnM=','Rm91ciBDYWxsaW5nIEJpcmRz','Rml2ZSBHb2xkZW4gUmluZ3M=','U2l4IEdlZXNlIGEgTGF5aW5n','U2V2ZW4gU3dhbnMgYSBTd2ltbWluZw==','RWlnaHQgTWFpZHMgYSBNaWxraW5n','TmluZSBMYWRpZXMgRGFuY2luZw==','VGVuIExvcmRzIGEgTGVhcGluZw==','RWxldmVuIFBpcGVycyBQaXBpbmc=','VHdlbHZlIERydW1tZXJzIERydW1taW5n');var d,i:Integer;function S(n:Integer):string;begin case n mod 10 of 1:if n<>11 then Result:='st' else Result:='th';2:if n<>12 then Result:='nd' else Result:='th';3:if n<>13 then Result:='rd' else Result:='th';else Result:='th'end end;procedure T(const s:string;m:Integer);var c:Char;begin for c in s do begin Write(c);Sleep(m) end;WriteLn end;begin for d:=1 to 12 do begin T('On the '+IntToStr(d)+S(d)+DecodeStringBase64('IGRheSBvZiBDaHJpc3RtYXMsIG15IHRydWUgbG92ZSBnYXZlIHRvIG1lOg=='),25);for i:=1 to d do T(DecodeStringBase64(A[i]),20);WriteLn;Sleep(400) end; end.

If you can guess what this program does by looking at the code, congratulations, you are either:
    • A compiler
    • Or lying
Everyone else should simply compile and run it and let the surprise unfold.

What This Program Does
This program uses Pascal syntax that is:
    • Technically legal
    • Morally questionable
    • Emotionally challenging
It demonstrates that: The compiler said “yes.” Common sense  was not consulted.

What This Program Does Not Do
This program does not Prioritize readability
This program does not Respect maintainability
This program does not  Care about your editor’s syntax highlighting
This program does not Follow any known best practices
This program does not Apologize

Expected Reactions
Common responses include:
•  WTF? How does this compile?  (compiler developers: “looks fine to me”)
• Why does this work?
• Who approved this?

FAQ
Q: Is this good code?
A: Absolutely not. But it is code.

Q: Why did you do this?
A: Someone had to and the compiler didn’t stop me.

Q: Can I show this to my boss?
A: Yes, if your goal is early retirement.

Q: Is this Voo Doo magic?
A: No, just the Free Pascal Compiler and me doing our thing.

Q: Earlier I read WTF? Is that what I think it means?
A: No, it means: Warning: Technically Functional

License
DO WHAT THE COMPILER ALLOWS LICENSE (DWTCAL)
You may:
    • Run it
    • Study it
    • Share it
    • Regret it

You may not:
    • Blame the author
    • Ask for support
    • Claim this was a good idea
    • Ask why
    • Ask how

Inspiration
Inspired by the legendary xmas.c (1988)
winner of the International Obfuscated C Code Contest.
This is not a port.
This is a Free Pascal-flavored tribute with extra questionable decisions.

🕯️ Final Words
If this program made you smile, cringe, or question reality then it has already done too much.
Happy compiling 🎄🪄

Seriously, please compile and run it. I would love some feedback. It is currently Linux only so far console program. To compile: fpc XmasMagic.pas

Seasons Greetings to you all and May Beautiful moments and happy memories surround you and your family and loved ones and friends with joy this Christmas season

Aruna.

[ginoo]

beautiful and best wishes to you and everyone too

[Bart]

Copy-pasted the code as shown in the frist post:

Code: [Select]

magic.lpr(1,481) Error: Syntax error, "=" expected but "identifier R" found
The attached file compiles though.
Maybe correct the posted code?

Nice one though.

Bart

[ASerge]

Copy-pasted the code as shown in the frist post:

Code: [Select]

magic.lpr(1,481) Error: Syntax error, "=" expected but "identifier R" found

Not confirm. No problem. Copy-paste error?

[Bart]

Here's my oneliner:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. program x;uses sysutils;const xx: string = '      !aaaaaCdeeehHiMmnNpprrrrsstwyyY'; xxx: array[1..339] of integer =(7,8,9,10,11,6,12,7,13,11,8,14,12,9,5,15,13,10,6,16,14,11,7,17,15,12,8,18,16,15,13,9,19,17,16,14,10,4,20,18,17,15,13,11,5,3,21,19,18,16,14,12,8,6,4,22,20,19,17,15,13,9,7,6,5,23,21,20,18,16,14,10,8,7,6,2,24,22,21,19,17,15,11,9,8,7,6,4,3,25,23,22,20,18,16,12,10,9,8,7,5,4,2,26,24,23,21,19,17,13,12,11,10,9,8,6,5,3,27,25,24,22,20,19,18,14,13,12,11,10,9,7,6,4,28,26,25,23,21,20,19,15,14,13,12,11,10,8,7,5,29,27,26,24,22,21,20,16,15,14,13,12,11,9,8,6,30,29,28,27,25,23,22,21,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,7,31,30,29,28,26,24,23,22,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,8,7,32,31,30,29,27,25,24,23,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,9,8,5,2,1,33,32,31,30,28,26,25,24,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,10,9,6,4,3,2,34,33,32,31,29,27,26,25,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,11,10,7,5,4,3,35,34,33,32,30,29,28,27,26,24,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,8,6,5,4,36,35,34,33,31,30,29,28,27,25,24,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,1);procedure xxxx(xxxxx: integer);begin byte(xx[xxxxx]) := byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx]);byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) := byte(xx[xxxxx]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx+1]);byte(xx[xxxxx]) := byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx]);end;var xxxxxx: integer;begin for xxxxxx := 1 to 339 do begin xxxx(xxx[xxxxxx]);sleep(50);writeln(xx);end;end.

Bart

[Aruna]

beautiful and best wishes to you and everyone too

I am glad you like it, please feel free to do as you wish with it. 

[Aruna]

Copy-pasted the code as shown in the frist post:

Code: [Select]

magic.lpr(1,481) Error: Syntax error, "=" expected but "identifier R" found
The attached file compiles though.
Maybe correct the posted code?

Nice one though.

Bart

Fixed, should be oh-kay now 

[Aruna]

Copy-pasted the code as shown in the frist post:

Code: [Select]

magic.lpr(1,481) Error: Syntax error, "=" expected but "identifier R" found

Not confirm. No problem. Copy-paste error?

I may have fixed it just before you checked ASerge? I had errands to run so fixed fast and took-off. Just got back.

[Aruna]

Here's my oneliner:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. program x;uses sysutils;const xx: string = '      !aaaaaCdeeehHiMmnNpprrrrsstwyyY'; xxx: array[1..339] of integer =(7,8,9,10,11,6,12,7,13,11,8,14,12,9,5,15,13,10,6,16,14,11,7,17,15,12,8,18,16,15,13,9,19,17,16,14,10,4,20,18,17,15,13,11,5,3,21,19,18,16,14,12,8,6,4,22,20,19,17,15,13,9,7,6,5,23,21,20,18,16,14,10,8,7,6,2,24,22,21,19,17,15,11,9,8,7,6,4,3,25,23,22,20,18,16,12,10,9,8,7,5,4,2,26,24,23,21,19,17,13,12,11,10,9,8,6,5,3,27,25,24,22,20,19,18,14,13,12,11,10,9,7,6,4,28,26,25,23,21,20,19,15,14,13,12,11,10,8,7,5,29,27,26,24,22,21,20,16,15,14,13,12,11,9,8,6,30,29,28,27,25,23,22,21,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,7,31,30,29,28,26,24,23,22,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,8,7,32,31,30,29,27,25,24,23,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,9,8,5,2,1,33,32,31,30,28,26,25,24,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,10,9,6,4,3,2,34,33,32,31,29,27,26,25,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,11,10,7,5,4,3,35,34,33,32,30,29,28,27,26,24,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,8,6,5,4,36,35,34,33,31,30,29,28,27,25,24,23,22,21,20,19,18,17,16,15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8,7,6,5,1);procedure xxxx(xxxxx: integer);begin byte(xx[xxxxx]) := byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx]);byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) := byte(xx[xxxxx]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx+1]);byte(xx[xxxxx]) := byte(xx[xxxxx+1]) xor byte(xx[xxxxx]);end;var xxxxxx: integer;begin for xxxxxx := 1 to 339 do begin xxxx(xxx[xxxxxx]);sleep(50);writeln(xx);end;end.

Bart

I like it, it Characters appear to “bubble” around and output looks like a slow-motion text shuffle or actual falling snow if you have a wild imagination like I do. And I thought mine was obfuscated real bad 

[Bart]

I like it, it Characters appear to “bubble” around and output looks like a slow-motion text shuffle or actual falling snow if you have a wild imagination like I do. And I thought mine was obfuscated real bad 

Well spotted,
In fact it's a reversed bubblesort.
(First bubblesorted the message, recorded all swaps and this playes it back.)

Bart

[PascalDragon]

Expected Reactions
Common responses include:
•  WTF? How does this compile?

Why should this be an expected response? It's valid Pascal afterall... 🤷‍♀️

[Aruna]

Expected Reactions
Common responses include:
•  WTF? How does this compile?

Why should this be an expected response? It's valid Pascal afterall... 🤷‍♀️

Because “valid Pascal” and “sane Pascal” are two very different specifications?  True, it is valid Pascal. But you’re coming at this with compiler-developer eyesight. Ask yourself how many of us mere mortals, without that lived experience, would immediately recognize it as such?

Just remember you’re viewing this with compiler-developer goggles on. For the rest of us, it triggers a perfectly reasonable “WTF?” reflex. 

EDIT: I have made the necessary changes to the "WTF .." line.

[jcmontherock]

Strange...