mandelbrot_ascii, a C code which generates an ASCII image of the Mandelbrot set using two lines of obscure C code.
The Mandelbrot set is a set of points C in the complex plane with the property that the iteration
z(n+1) = z(n)^2 + c
remains bounded.
All the points in the Mandelbrot set are known to lie within the circle of radius 2 and center at the origin.
To make a plot of the Mandelbrot set, one starts with a given point C and carries out the iteration for a fixed number of steps. If the iterates never exceed 2 in magnitude, the point C is taken to be a member of the Mandelbrot set.
The MANDELBROT_ASCII program makes an image of the Mandelbrot set using ASCII graphics, sometimes called "typewriter graphics". Moreover, the entire program consists of a pair of cryptic lines of text:
main(n){float r,i,R,I,b;for(i=-1;i<1;i+=.06,puts(""))for(r=-2;I=i,(R=r)<1;
r+=.03,putchar(n+31))for(n=0;b=I*I,26>n++&&R*R+b<4;I=2*R*I+i,R=R*R-b+r);}
Working out how the program can do what it does is a true puzzle!
The computer code and data files described and made available on this web page are distributed under the MIT license
mandelbrot_ascii is available in a C version.
ASCII_ART_GRAYSCALE, a data directory of examples of grayscale "ASCII Art" files, in which images are created using printable characters.
julia_set, a C code which generates a TGA or TARGA graphics file of a Julia set.
MANDELBROT, a C code which generates an ASCII PPM image of the Mandelbrot fractal set;
MANDELBROT_PPM, a C code which generates a binary PPM image of the Mandelbrot fractal set;
mgs, a C code which is an example of obscure legacy code, which the student is encouraged to study, understand, and document. This example is due to Diane O'Leary.
pig_latin, a C code which converts its input to Pig Latin; this obscure program is a winner of the International Obfuscated C Code Competition in the Most Humorous category, by Don Dodson.