Hexagony is a two-dimensional code-golf programming language created by Martin Ender in 2015. Instead of running code line by line like normal languages, Hexagony executes instructions across a hexagonal grid. The program flow moves through the grid like a wandering insect, bouncing around edges and changing direction based on symbols. The unusual geometry makes it visually interesting, mathematically strange, and mentally painful to write—yet it produces surprisingly compact solutions for competitive coding.
Hexagony belongs to the same culture of golfing languages as Jelly, GolfScript, and 05AB1E, but it adds a unique twist: spatial programming. Code is not just text; it’s a layout puzzle. Programs often look like ASCII art, abstract mazes, or alien QR codes. Even a simple script feels like architecting a tiny computational beehive.
🔥 Specs
Language Type: Code Golf / 2D Geometry Based
Released: 2015
Creator: Martin Ender
Typing: Dynamic
Execution Model: Instruction pointer moves across a hexagonal grid
Syntax Style: Single-character commands
💻 Example Code (Hello World)
Below is a real Hexagony “Hello World” (yes, it's a hexagon):
@>v"Hello, World!"v<
^} {^
^} {^
^} {^
@<^ v>@
This layout controls the direction of execution like a tiny machine moving around inside a honeycomb.
🧠 How It Works
- The instruction pointer travels through the program as if navigating a hexagon.
- Commands change direction, manipulate values, read or write output, or jump around.
- Flow control relies on wrapping and geometric transitions rather than lines of code.
- Values are stored on a stack or internal registers similar to other code-golf designs.
- Code becomes both visual and functional — layout matters.
Hexagony intentionally breaks the mental model of programming and replaces it with spatial reasoning.
💪 Strengths
- Highly compact solutions for certain problems.
- Visually unique and intellectually challenging.
- Encourages thinking about data and control flow in non-linear ways.
💀 Weaknesses
- Very steep learning curve.
- Hard to debug because execution doesn’t follow normal reading order.
- Programs can break if spacing or shape alignment changes by even one character.
🌍 Where To Run It
Hexagony runs directly on TIO.run, making experimentation easy without installing anything.
🎯 Should You Learn It?
For real-world software: No
For competitive code golf: Yes
For creative programming experiments: Yes
For mental stability: Probably not
📌 Summary
Hexagony pushes programming into geometric chaos. Instead of writing code in straight lines, you build patterns that function as instructions. It’s part puzzle, part programming, and part digital art. While not practical, it offers a fascinating look at how logic can exist in forms we normally never consider — proving that programming can be playful, visual, and beautifully absurd.
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