Learn Intercal - 10 Code Examples & CST Typing Practice Test
INTERCAL (Compiler Language With No Pronounceable Acronym) is an esoteric programming language designed to be as different from conventional languages as possible, often intentionally obscure and humorous.
Learn INTERCAL with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 25, 2025
Code Sample Descriptions
Hello World in INTERCAL
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROGRAM PRINTS "HELLO, WORLD".
DO ,1 <- #13
DO ,1 SUB #1 <- #238
PLEASE DO ,1 <- #1
DO READ OUT ,1
PLEASE GIVE UP
A traditional 'Hello World' in INTERCAL, showcasing the verbose and satirical style of the language.
INTERCAL Simple Addition
DO ,1 <- #5
DO ,2 <- #10
DO ,3 <- ,1
DO ,3 <- ,3 + ,2
PLEASE DO ,3 <- ,3
PLEASE GIVE UP
Performs addition of two numbers in INTERCAL.
INTERCAL Count to 5
DO ,1 <- #1
DO ,2 <- #5
(LOOP) PLEASE DO ,1 <- ,1 + #1
DO ,3 <- ,1
DO ,3 SUB #1 <- ,3
PLEASE COME FROM (LOOP) NEXT
PLEASE GIVE UP
Counts from 1 to 5 using INTERCAL loops.
INTERCAL Hello Name
DO ,1 <- #72
DO ,2 <- #101
DO ,3 <- #108
DO ,4 <- #108
DO ,5 <- #111
DO ,6 <- #44
DO ,7 <- #32
DO ,8 <- #65
DO ,9 <- #108
DO ,10 <- #105
DO ,11 <- #99
DO ,12 <- #101
DO ,13 <- #33
DO READ OUT ,1
DO READ OUT ,2
DO READ OUT ,3
DO READ OUT ,4
DO READ OUT ,5
DO READ OUT ,6
DO READ OUT ,7
DO READ OUT ,8
DO READ OUT ,9
DO READ OUT ,10
DO READ OUT ,11
DO READ OUT ,12
DO READ OUT ,13
PLEASE GIVE UP
Prints a custom name in INTERCAL.
INTERCAL Bitwise NOT Example
DO ,1 <- #42
DO ,2 <- ,1 ~ #255
PLEASE DO ,2
PLEASE GIVE UP
Applies bitwise NOT to a number.
INTERCAL Swap Variables
DO ,1 <- #7
DO ,2 <- #13
DO ,3 <- ,1
DO ,1 <- ,2
DO ,2 <- ,3
PLEASE GIVE UP
Swaps two variables in INTERCAL.
INTERCAL Multiply by Repeated Addition
DO ,1 <- #4
DO ,2 <- #3
DO ,3 <- #0
(LOOP) DO ,3 <- ,3 + ,1
DO ,2 <- ,2 - #1
PLEASE COME FROM (LOOP) NEXT
PLEASE DO ,3
PLEASE GIVE UP
Multiplies two numbers using repeated addition.
INTERCAL Print Digits 0-9
DO ,1 <- #0
(LOOP) DO READ OUT ,1
DO ,1 <- ,1 + #1
PLEASE COME FROM (LOOP) NEXT
PLEASE GIVE UP
Prints digits 0 through 9.
INTERCAL Conditional Example
DO ,1 <- #10
(LOOP) PLEASE DO ,1 <- ,1 - #1
(END) PLEASE COME FROM (LOOP) NEXT
PLEASE GIVE UP
Executes code conditionally using COME FROM.
INTERCAL Reverse Number
DO ,1 <- #123
DO ,2 <- #0
DO ,3 <- ,1
(LOOP) DO ,2 <- ,2 * #10 + ,3 MOD #10
DO ,3 <- ,3 / #10
PLEASE COME FROM (LOOP) NEXT
PLEASE DO ,2
PLEASE GIVE UP
Reverses a number using intermediate storage.
Frequently Asked Questions about Intercal
What is Intercal?
INTERCAL (Compiler Language With No Pronounceable Acronym) is an esoteric programming language designed to be as different from conventional languages as possible, often intentionally obscure and humorous.
What are the primary use cases for Intercal?
Esoteric language experimentation. Humorous programming challenges. Teaching unconventional programming concepts. Code obfuscation contests. Studying Turing-completeness in non-standard languages
What are the strengths of Intercal?
Humorous and challenging for programmers. Great for understanding Turing-completeness in absurd contexts. Encourages creative thinking about programming design. Supported by interpreters for experimentation. Strong community of esolang enthusiasts
What are the limitations of Intercal?
Extremely difficult to read and write. Not suitable for practical programming. Sparse documentation and few tutorials. Code can be intentionally nonsensical. Learning curve is steep due to unusual syntax
How can I practice Intercal typing speed?
CodeSpeedTest offers 10+ real Intercal code examples for typing practice. You can measure your WPM, track accuracy, and improve your coding speed with guided exercises.