Welcome! This is a custom programming language designed for space-themed computation and data manipulation, featuring a unique syntax that combines readability with operability.
Play around with the language here.
Note: This project was inspired by the Muffin Programming Language.
Starship is a domain-specific language that uses space-themed keywords and constructs to perform computations, handle data structures, and manage program flow. It features strong typing, array operations, quantum (random) number generation, and structured program organization.
I love space. I love programming. I love the idea of a space-themed programming language.
Plus, this was something new to me. My previous projects largely revolved around streamlit web apps and applying data anlysis tensorflow models to some aspect of our lives. Creating my own language led to many technical hurdles that I had to overcome. I also felt in-control: I could do whatever I wanted, and so felt more creative and motivated to continue.
Every Starship program follows this basic structure:
MISSION: ProgramName
CARGO:
# Variable declarations
[QUANTUM:]
# Optional quantum (random) variables
FLIGHT_PLAN:
# Numbered instructions
END_MISSION
METRIC: Numbers (integers/floats)SIGNAL: StringsCONSTELLATION: ArraysQUANTUM: Random number generators
EXTRACT source INTO target # Assignment
BEAM value to DISPLAY # Output to console
BOOST x with y INTO z # Multiplication: z = x * y
DOCK x with y INTO z # Addition: z = x + y
UNDOCK x with y INTO z # Subtraction: z = x - y
SPLIT x with y INTO z # Division: z = x / y
EXTRACT array[0] INTO x # Get array element
APPEND value TO array # Add to array
array = [] as CONSTELLATION # Create empty array
ORBIT count TIMES: # Loop count times
# Numbered instructions
MISSION: FactorialCalculator
CARGO:
number = 5 as METRIC
result = 1 as METRIC
counter = 1 as METRIC
FLIGHT_PLAN:
ORBIT number TIMES:
BOOST result with counter INTO result
DOCK counter with 1 INTO counter
BEAM result to DISPLAY
END_MISSION
Output:
🚀 Mission completed successfully!
1
2
6
24
120
MISSION: RandomGenerator
CARGO:
results = [] as CONSTELLATION
iterations = 2 as METRIC
QUANTUM:
random_range = UNCERTAIN(1, 100)
FLIGHT_PLAN:
1. ORBIT iterations TIMES:
2. EXTRACT random_range INTO current
3. APPEND current TO results
4. BEAM current to DISPLAY
END_MISSION
Output: (NOTE: The output is random and will vary.)
🚀 Mission completed successfully!
36.1470344818951
Quantum states stabilized.
-77.22467544708145
-92.61306865792709
6.876652546001278
Quantum states stabilized.
-25.271289187128154
28.33861312596064
MISSION: ArrayManipulator
CARGO:
numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] as CONSTELLATION
squares = [] as CONSTELLATION
FLIGHT_PLAN:
1. BEAM "Original array:" to DISPLAY
2. BEAM numbers to DISPLAY
3. ORBIT 5 TIMES:
4. EXTRACT numbers[index] INTO temp
5. BOOST temp with temp INTO temp
6. APPEND temp TO squares
7. BEAM "Squared array:" to DISPLAY
8. BEAM squares to DISPLAY
END_MISSION
Output:
🚀 Mission completed successfully!
Original array:
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Squared array:
[1, 4, 9, 16, 25]
Sum of squares:
55
The language includes comprehensive error handling with descriptive messages:
- Syntax errors
- Type mismatches
- Array index out of bounds
- Division by zero
- Invalid operations
- Missing required components
Errors include line numbers and detailed messages for easy debugging:
🚨 MISSION FAILURE at line 5: Cannot split by zero
The language includes a Streamlit-based interactive environment with:
- Code editor with syntax highlighting
- Example program templates
- Real-time execution
- Quick reference documentation
- Visual output display