Files
Landon Curt Noll f64f244ba6 update due to recent commits
The largest change was due to modifying `ioccc.css`
that resulted in all year and entry tarballs being modified.

Ran `make update` to perform the above.
2025-11-25 22:42:46 -08:00
..
2023-07-06 21:49:38 -07:00

To build:

Before building, make sure that you have the OpenGL development libraries installed.

    make

NOTE: this entry requires the X11/Xlib.h header file and the X11 library to compile. For more information see the FAQ on "X11".

There is an alternate version of this entry. See Alternate code below.

To use:

    ./vince

Try:

When running this in the program's window try hitting space a few times and see what happens!

Alternate code:

The vince.alt.c code will run on SGI IRIX and also has the recursive CPP macro (which sneaked in accidentally) removed.

Alternate build:

To compile this alternate version:

    make alt

Alternate use:

Use vince.alt as you would vince above.

Alternate try:

Try it just like vince as above.

Judges' remarks:

This beauteous entry makes use of visual {}s and whitespace to instruct the OpenGL development libraries to create beauteous visuals. Even hitting the space bar while the program runs produces a "spacey" effect! :-)

NOTE: when hitting space bar make sure that the program window is in focus!

Challenge: Try modifying the texture to something of your own design.

Author's remarks:

ABUSE OF RULES

  • The executable needs to read in its own source code in order to run. As long as the source is in the same directory as the executable it should be able to find it...

  • The program requires the OpenGL library.

  • The program abuses severely the whitespace and { } ; exceptions in the file size limits.

Requirements

  • OpenGL. It works (slowly) with Mesa.

  • 16bpp graphics capability (but might work at other depths)

  • The original source needs to be in the same directory as the executable, and the source's name should be the same as the executable but with .c on the end.

Background

I was annoyed after the last IOCCC because I slaved away on a clever text based game only to find all of the game entries used X11. X11 isn't standard C!

So to one up them, I decided to use OpenGL. It's standard, and most Unix-like systems these days have either accelerated graphics or else software rendering.

Obfuscation

It was a challenge getting the source code below the 2k limit. OpenGL has way too many 'GRATUITOUSLY_LONG_CONSTANTS' and 'glLongStudlyFunctionNames();'.

Therefore, much of the obfuscation comes secondary to just reducing the code size to fit under the limit while still having some semblance of a demo.

There are some interesting abuses scattered about.

Usage

Try hitting the space bar when the program is running.

For Fun

Try modifying the texture to your own custom design...

Thanks

Many thanks to John Clemens for testing this on various machines for me.

Errors you can get

  • 0 = no error.
  • 1 = X problem.
  • 2 = can't open GLX.
  • 3 = can't open 16bpp visual.
  • 4 = can't open source file.