# Here's The Programming Game You Never Asked For

**URL:** <https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177>\
**Category:** blog\
**Created:** [April 15, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177 "2016-04-15T09:48:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 9:48am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/1 "2016-04-15T09:48:24Z")

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You know what's universally regarded as un-fun by most programmers? Writing [assembly language code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_language).

* * *
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at [http://blog.codinghorror.com/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/](http://blog.codinghorror.com/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/)

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:15am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/2 "2016-04-15T10:15:14Z")

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I would be remiss if I did not mention Code Combat

> **[CodeCombat: Learn to Code by Playing a Game](https://codecombat.com/)**
>
> Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game for beginners. Learn Python or JavaScript as you defeat ogres, solve mazes, and level up. Open source HTML5 game!

and CodinGame

> **[Coding Games and Programming Challenges to Code Better](https://www.codingame.com/start)**
>
> CodinGame is a challenge-based training platform for programmers where you can play with the hottest programming topics. Solve games, code AI bots, learn from your peers, have fun.

and Screeps, a MMO RTS

https://store.steampowered.com/widget/464350

Reaching back further, there’s also Core Wars

[http://blog.codinghorror.com/core-war-two-programs-enter-one-program-leaves/](http://blog.codinghorror.com/core-war-two-programs-enter-one-program-leaves/)

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**Author:** ![Malcolm\_Crum](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/malcolm_crum/32/74101_2.png) [@Malcolm\_Crum](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Malcolm_Crum)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/3 "2016-04-15T10:18:29Z")

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Speaking of programming for children, I recently came across Cubetto:

> **[Cubetto - Hands on coding for ages 3 and up](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/primotoys/cubetto-hands-on-coding-for-girls-and-boys-aged-3)**
>
> A playful programming language you can touch. Montessori approved, and LOGO Turtle inspired. Learn programming away from the screen.

Aimed at a fairly young audience but I like the physicality it provides (plus the Logo inspiration).

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**Author:** ![jbriguet](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/jbriguet/32/74102_2.png) [@jbriguet](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/jbriguet)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:24am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/4 "2016-04-15T10:24:35Z")

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There is also [Box 256](http://box-256.com/) which is like TIS-100, but simpler, easier and online.

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**Author:** ![Pietzcker](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/pietzcker/32/74104_2.png) [@Pietzcker](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Pietzcker)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:33am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/5 "2016-04-15T10:33:43Z")

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My younger son (fourth grade) is currently playing [Code Master](http://www.thinkfun.com/products/code-master/). Nifty little game, gets quite tricky near the top levels.

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**Author:** ![bcoburn3](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bcoburn3](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/bcoburn3)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 10:50am UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/6 "2016-04-15T10:50:42Z")

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Shameless plug:

I’ve finished Stockfighter, and wrote a clone of the official stock exchange server. You can find that here: [https://github.com/bcoburn3/forex](https://github.com/bcoburn3/forex)

I’m looking for work as a programmer in NYC, my email address is [bcoburn3@gmail.com](mailto:bcoburn3@gmail.com) please get in touch if you also think that a game like Stockfighter is a good test of programmer skill.

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**Author:** ![billard](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/billard/32/74106_2.png) [@billard](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/billard)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 12:11pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/7 "2016-04-15T12:11:08Z")

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> I’ve felt for a long time that Stack Overflow should be doing yearly programming game events exactly like this

You would’ve loved [Advent of Code](http://adventofcode.com/)

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**Author:** ![yamikuronue](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/yamikuronue/32/74108_2.png) [@yamikuronue](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/yamikuronue)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 12:22pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/8 "2016-04-15T12:22:57Z")

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A much better example is Pony Island. It’s a game first and foremost, but by the end of it, you discover you’ve learned something about debugging and low-level programming. Not a lot, but a taste of it, enough to make later lessons in programming feel familiar, but without feeling like you’re having the lesson shoved down your throat.

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**Author:** ![thw0rted](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/thw0rted/32/36443_2.png) [@thw0rted](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/thw0rted)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/9 "2016-04-15T13:02:09Z")

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> An arbitrary programming game, particularly one that goes to great  
> lengths to simulate a fictional system, is a wonderful expression of the  
> inherent joy in playing and experimenting with code.

So, you’re saying Dwarf Fortress is the ultimate programming game?

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**Author:** ![bleet](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@bleet](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/bleet)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/10 "2016-04-15T13:36:36Z")

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For those in college, check out the ACM Programming Contest. It’s a blast…

> **[ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACM_International_Collegiate_Programming_Contest)**
>
> ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (abbreviated as ACM-ICPC or ICPC) is an annual multi-tiered competitive programming competition among the universities of world. Headquartered at Baylor University, directed by ICPC Executive Director and Baylor Professor William B. Poucher, the ICPC operates in autonomous regions on six continents under the auspices of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) in accordance with the ICPC Policies and Procedures which are published at the Offic...

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**Author:** ![jeffreyd\_davis](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/jeffreyd_davis/32/75392_2.png) [@jeffreyd\_davis](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/jeffreyd_davis)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/11 "2016-04-15T13:54:52Z")

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I was just going to jump in on code combat. It’s so much fun I sometimes want to sneak away from my family time so I can go… program… for fun… like I do at work.  
Yeah, we’re all a little weird 🙂

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**Author:** ![Kevek](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/kevek/32/74111_2.png) [@Kevek](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Kevek)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/12 "2016-04-15T14:27:48Z")

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There’s also [Screeps](https://screeps.com/) which I haven’t paid for, but they’re releasing an open source version of their server as part of an Indiegogo campaign.

Sort of an MMO-Programmer-StarCraft.

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**Author:** ![jschulenklopper](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/j/b38774/32.png) [@jschulenklopper](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/jschulenklopper)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:28pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/13 "2016-04-15T17:28:39Z")

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From the creator of Advent of Code (mentioned earlier, and a ton of fun) is the Synacor Challenge at [https://challenge.synacor.com/](https://challenge.synacor.com/). Also a programming challenge and game, requiring you to write a (simple) code interpreter.

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**Author:** ![Alfredo\_Pinto](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/a/41988e/32.png) [@Alfredo\_Pinto](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Alfredo_Pinto)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/14 "2016-04-15T19:11:04Z")

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I also use [https://lightbot.com/](https://lightbot.com/) to test new programmers

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**Author:** ![elbrujohalcon](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/elbrujohalcon/32/74114_2.png) [@elbrujohalcon](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/elbrujohalcon)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/15 "2016-04-15T20:17:51Z")

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At [Inaka](https://inaka.net) we’ve been evaluating people by playing games for almost as long as our company exists.  
I’ve even created a very tough game for people who wants to learn erlang or test their erlang knowledge: it’s called **Gold Fever** and it’s open-sourced at [github](https://github.com/inaka/gold_fever).

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**Author:** ![Don\_Whiteside](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/don_whiteside/32/74115_2.png) [@Don\_Whiteside](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Don_Whiteside)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/16 "2016-04-15T20:32:45Z")

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The iOS game [CargoBot](http://twolivesleft.com/CargoBot/) is not dissimilar to Lightbot

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**Author:** ![Ted\_Oliverio](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@Ted\_Oliverio](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Ted_Oliverio)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/17 "2016-04-15T23:21:21Z")

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I emailed Jeff to tell him how this post connected of my love for _Robot Odyssey_ as possibly the best game of all time and the “programmers gotta program” idea along with the fact that, for the past year and a half my life has been consumed by working on an iPad game where you “program” Odyssey-esque robots to do farming for you. Anyway, he suggested I post a link here, so, here it is:

_[World of RoboFarmCraft](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id962182950?mt=8)_ – Robot farming game for the iPad (links to iTunes store).

Web site: [www.worfc.com](http://www.worfc.com)

Thanks all, and thanks again for everything you do, Jeff! 🙂

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**Author:** ![Howard\_Jones](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/howard_jones/32/74116_2.png) [@Howard\_Jones](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/Howard_Jones)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:01pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/18 "2016-04-16T13:01:33Z")

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Code Complete is one my all-time favourite programming books, but I think even Steve McConnell has been holding out on us if he referenced books from the future in the first edition of Code Complete…

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**Author:** ![MadOverlord](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v2/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@MadOverlord](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/MadOverlord)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/19 "2016-04-16T13:41:54Z")

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Check out [nand2tetris.org](http://nand2tetris.org) – a course goes all the way from a simple logic gate to a virtual machine with compiler. It’s “turtles all the way down”, and you get to build the turtles.

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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://discourse-cdn.codinghorror.com/user_avatar/discourse.codinghorror.com/codinghorror/32/36371_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 9:15pm UTC](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177/20 "2016-04-16T21:15:55Z")

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Oh yeah it is the same quote in both editions, with new citations. I will remove the citations though since it is confusing.

[Next page](https://discourse.codinghorror.com/t/heres-the-programming-game-you-never-asked-for/4177.md?page=2)