Difference between revisions of "Source Code"

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There are at least three instances of source code being displayed in the [[Serial Experiments Lain (anime)|anime]].
 
==Layer 01==
 
==Layer 01==
A teacher is seen copying some C code onto the chalkboard in [[Layer 01]] just before Lain's fingertips begin to emit ectoplasm. It features a yen symbol instead of a backslash in an escape sequence. The teacher probably forgot something after the second percent symbol. Part of the code is not visible because the teacher is standing in the way. It reads as follows:
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A teacher is seen copying some C code onto the chalkboard in [[Layer 01]] just before Lain's fingertips begin to emit [[Paranormal Occurrences in Serial Experiments Lain
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|ectoplasm]]. It features a yen symbol instead of a backslash in an escape sequence; this is because certain japanese fonts render the backslash character as the yen symbol, such as the UD Digi Kyokasho font family. It is unclear whether or not this is intentional or holds any  significance. Part of the code is not visible because the teacher is standing in the way. It reads as follows:
  
 
  a='A'; b='B';
 
  a='A'; b='B';
Line 7: Line 9:
 
  if(a<b) printf("%c<%c // teacher's back
 
  if(a<b) printf("%c<%c // teacher's back
 
  x=321; y=123;
 
  x=321; y=123;
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==Layer 04==
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[[File:System_console_source.jpg|300px|thumb|System Console]]
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In [[Layer 04]], Lain's [[NAVI]] is shown with a "system console" window open with MIPS-ASM scrolling by.
 
==Layer 07==
 
==Layer 07==
[[File:Life.jpg|300px|thumb|right|CRowView.CL]]
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[[File:Life.jpg|300px|thumb|CRowView.CL]]
[[File:Walker.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL]]
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[[File:Walker.jpg|300px|thumb|Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL]]
In [[Layer 07]], there is a scene where Lain is in class, surreptitiously working on her [[HandiNAVI]] instead of paying attention. For a few seconds, her NAVI screen is visible, and we can see her rapidly scroll through two files of Common Lisp source code, named CRowView.CL and Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL.
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In [[Layer 07]], during class, Lain is surreptitiously working on her [[HandiNAVI]] instead of paying attention. For a few seconds, her NAVI's screen is visible, and we can see her rapidly scroll through two files of Common Lisp source code, named CRowView.CL and Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL. Text from both of the files are visible in the [[Serial Experiments Lain (game)|game]] as well, in the video file Dc1023, "communication."[http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm685015]
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=== CRowView.CL ===
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CRowView.CL contains code for John Conway's Game of Life.[http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/ai-repository/ai/lang/lisp/code/fun/life.cl] The [[Staff|creators]] probably selected this code because of its seemingly [[God|omnipotent]] implications (i.e. creating worlds and life).
  
Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL is the source for a code walker. This was probably included for its tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Apple Inc. references | Apple]] in a section of code that is commented out. The full file can be found [http://ftp.sunet.se/pub/lang/lisp/code/codewalk/walk/new_walk.cl here.]
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=== Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL ===
  
CRowView.CL contains code for [[Wikipedia:Conway's Game Of Life|John Conway's Game of Life.]] The creators probably selected this code because of its seemingly [[God|omnipotent]] implications, i.e. creating worlds and life. The full file can be found [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/ai-repository/ai/lang/lisp/code/fun/life.cl here.]
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Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL is the source for a code walker.[http://ftp.sunet.se/pub/lang/lisp/code/codewalk/walk/new_walk.cl] This was probably included for its tongue-in-cheek reference to [[Apple Inc. References|Apple]] in a section of code that is commented out.
  
Some more tenuous, coincidental links between CGoL and Lain include the fact that the recently established [http://www.catb.org/hacker-emblem/ Hacker Emblem] was inspired by the Game of Life, and Lain can be described as a hacker; and that CGoL also inspired the [[Wikipedia:Poietic Generator]] while Lain [[Give some examples of cybernetic systems at play in specific visual texts. What metaphors of the body in contemporary society do they suggest? And to what commodity end are they marketed?|has been described as an autopoietic entity]].
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== Related Pages ==
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*[[Typographics]]
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*[[Wikipedia:Conway's Game Of Life|Wikipedia page on Life.]]
  
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]

Revision as of 11:39, 22 April 2022

There are at least three instances of source code being displayed in the anime.

Layer 01

A teacher is seen copying some C code onto the chalkboard in Layer 01 just before Lain's fingertips begin to emit [[Paranormal Occurrences in Serial Experiments Lain |ectoplasm]]. It features a yen symbol instead of a backslash in an escape sequence; this is because certain japanese fonts render the backslash character as the yen symbol, such as the UD Digi Kyokasho font family. It is unclear whether or not this is intentional or holds any significance. Part of the code is not visible because the teacher is standing in the way. It reads as follows:

a='A'; b='B';
if(a>b) printf("%c>%¥n",/*teacher's head*/);
if(a==b) printf("%c=% // teacher's shoulders
if(a<b) printf("%c<%c // teacher's back
x=321; y=123;

Layer 04

System Console


In Layer 04, Lain's NAVI is shown with a "system console" window open with MIPS-ASM scrolling by.

Layer 07

CRowView.CL
Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL

In Layer 07, during class, Lain is surreptitiously working on her HandiNAVI instead of paying attention. For a few seconds, her NAVI's screen is visible, and we can see her rapidly scroll through two files of Common Lisp source code, named CRowView.CL and Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL. Text from both of the files are visible in the game as well, in the video file Dc1023, "communication."[1]

CRowView.CL

CRowView.CL contains code for John Conway's Game of Life.[2] The creators probably selected this code because of its seemingly omnipotent implications (i.e. creating worlds and life).

Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL

Afx-n-nPrv-View.CL is the source for a code walker.[3] This was probably included for its tongue-in-cheek reference to Apple in a section of code that is commented out.

Related Pages