# Hello Worlds: First Encounters of a Malleable Kind **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [18 January 2026 06:53 UTC](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/hello-worlds-first-encounters-of-a-malleable-kind/399 "2026-01-18T06:53:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![eliot](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/user_avatar/forum.malleable.systems/eliot/32/249_2.png) [@eliot](https://forum.malleable.systems/u/eliot)\ **Post date:** [18 January 2026 06:53 UTC](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/hello-worlds-first-encounters-of-a-malleable-kind/399/1 "2026-01-18T06:53:16Z")
Theme of the thread: Describe an experience getting started with a malleable system. I start with Uxn, as a reply to the seed-text mentioned in [Bootstrappable Software - #12 by neauoire](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/bootstrappable-software/149/12). ```auto FAFAFXFZFwfaalFBFAAFFZFZXVGfoAAFXFZFFXXfoKgaam&/$AAAFXJgaam&/AFAAFXFFZZDYJF$/FXAKF|Bgaam/AAFXFZFXgBFAYXFEF|BGGoGAFAFXFZDYFEF|B/DAAFX_gBAGYgDAAFXFXAXZEEZXGPgBAAFXFFZZ_]GQFAPGA^GAQFAPgaamFPGAAFXFXFFXXW ``` In a case of [nerd sniping](https://xkcd.com/356/), I’m intrigued by this piece of code and its brief mysterious description. Like the ciphered manuscript in Poe’s [Gold-Bug](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gold-Bug) (1843). ```plaintext 53‡‡†305))6*;4826)4‡.)4‡);806*;48†8 ¶60))85;1‡(;:‡*8†83(88)5*†;46(;88*96 *?;8)*‡(;485);5*†2:*‡(;4956*2(5*-4)8 ¶8*;4069285);)6†8)4‡‡;1(‡9;48081;8:8‡ 1;48†85;4)485†528806*81(‡9;48;(88;4 (‡?34;48)4‡;161;:188;‡?; ``` I’m drawn to understand what it means and how it works. As a learning exercise, I’ll see if I can use this ASCII-compatible binary executable to bootstrap Uxn. * * * The encoded string looks similar to Base64. Earlier today I was reading the specs for [Z85](https://rfc.zeromq.org/spec/32/), a format for representing **binary data as printable text** , apparently with some advantages. A while ago I made a library called [`base64-compressor`](https://github.com/eliot-akira/base64-compressor) to compress and encode text/binary data into a URL-safe variant of Base64. > Using standard Base64 in a URL requires encoding the `+`, `/` and `=` characters as special percent-encoded hexadecimal sequences (`+` becomes `%2B`, `/` becomes `%2F` and `=` becomes `%3D`), which makes the string longer and harder to read. > > Using a different alphabet allows for encoding as Base64 without requiring this extra markup. Typically, `+` and `/` are replaced by `-` and `_`, respectively. Some libraries encode `=` as `.`. > > – [IETF RFC 4648: Base 64 Encoding with URL and Filename Safe Alphabet](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc4648#section-5) It’s common to **store application state or dynamic code in the URL** , though there’s a browser limit (80Kb-2Mb). What if there was a kind of universal identifier of much larger capacity to represent every possible program and data structure, up to a reasonable length - or point to its hash. > Each Unison definition is identified by a **hash of its syntax tree**. Put another way, Unison code is content-addressed. Each definition has a unique and deterministic address (its hash) in this vast **immutable address space**. Names are like pointers to addresses in this space. > > – [💡 The big idea · Unison programming language](https://www.unison-lang.org/docs/the-big-idea/) ![image](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/uploads/default/original/1X/3d83d92c86a9383caa8175cd152b51ba44f5677d.jpeg) * * * > bytecode program where every byte is a **valid visible ascii character** I see, it was a challenge to code with a limited set of instructions that could be expressed within that byte range (0x21-7e), so limited that numbers had to be conjured up from the void as a workaround to meet the constraints. > the codes 0x20 to 0x7E were designated “printable characters”. These codes represent letters, digits, punctuation marks, and a few miscellaneous symbols. There are 95 printable characters in total. ![USASCII_code_chart](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/uploads/default/original/1X/d090b359434fb9325042ca6b95a7fd1b819525e2.png) Curious to learn more, I copy the seed from the browser, paste into the terminal to create a file. ```sh $ echo 'FAFAFXFZFwfaalFBFAAFFZFZXVGfoAAFXFZFFXXfoKgaam&/$AAAFXJgaam&/AFAAFXFFZZDYJF$/FXAKF|Bgaam/AAFXFZFXgBFAYXFEF|BGGoGAFAFXFZDYFEF|B/DAAFX_gBAGYgDAAFXFXAXZEEZXGPgBAAFXFFZZ_]GQFAPGA^GAQFAPgaamFPGAAFXFXFFXXW' \ | tr -d '\n' > xh.txt $ stat -c %s xh.txt # file size in bytes 200 $ cat xh.txt FAFA.. ``` The value is single-quoted because it contains characters like `$`, `&`, and `|`. Yes I found out the hard way by first naively pasting it and hit enter without thinking. I added a filter with [`tr`](https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/tr) to remove the new line that gets added by `echo`, just in case the extra character might get interpreted as an instruction. The file is named `xh.txt` because, by the time I’m writing this, I learned the purpose of the code: it converts text `.txt` into binary `.rom`. I found by chance the source code [`xh.tal`](https://git.sr.ht/~rabbits/uxn-utils/tree/main/item/cli/xh/src/xh.tal), which looks like the same/equivalent program. So it converts ASCII encoded hex values to raw binary data that’s executable on a Uxn machine. There’s an opposite command `hx` to convert binary to text. How to use this seed? ```sh $ cat drifblim.rom.txt | uxncli xh.txt > drifblim.rom ``` – From [Uxntal software: Bootstrapping](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/uxntal_software.html) I get [`drifblim`](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/drifblim.html) the Uxntal assembler, in text format. ```sh $ curl -LO https://wiki.xxiivv.com/etc/drifblim.rom.txt $ head -n 3 drifblim.rom.txt a002 ab80 0637 a00b fb60 037b a001 2580 1037 a003 1716 1c20 000a a002 7860 0a0f a001 0f17 00a0 0217 160b 2000 1d80 1216 ``` Ah, so this is the hex dump of the binary file, where each byte is encoded as its readable ASCII representation. The first byte, value 0xa0, is encoded in two bytes as `a` (0x61) and `0` (0x30). Now I need `uxncli` to run `xh.txt`. I’ve built it with `clang` before, but this time I’ll try `tcc` (Tiny C Compiler). Since learning about [Bootstrappable TinyCC](https://joyofsource.com/projects/bootstrappable-tcc.html), I started gathering **“ever green” tools and libraries** in C99/11 that can be built from source with `tcc`. That gives me a sense of independence and long-term stability rarely felt higher up in the ladder of abstraction. ```sh $ git clone https://git.sr.ht/~rabbits/uxncli $ cd uxncli && mkdir -p bin $ tcc src/uxncli.c -o bin/uxncli $ bin/uxncli usage: bin/uxncli [-v] file.rom [args..] ``` Build the assembler from its text description. ```sh $ cat drifblim.rom.txt | uxncli xh.txt > drifblim.rom $ stat -c %s drifblim.rom 2816 $ hd drifblim.rom a002 ... 4554 $ uxncli drifblim.rom usage: drifblim.rom in.tal out.rom ``` It’s alive! To confirm, compile itself. ```sh $ curl -LO https://wiki.xxiivv.com/etc/drifblim.tal.txt $ uxncli drifblim.rom drifblim.tal.txt drifboot.rom -- Unused: rom/mem -- Unused: rom/output Assembled drifboot.rom in 2816 bytes. $ diff drifblim.rom drifboot.rom ``` No output from `diff` means the binaries are identical. Bootstrap success. As a final step, I create and run a little program. ```auto $ cat << '.' > hi.tal ;text ( Push text pointer ) @while ( Create while label ) LDAk DUP ?{ ( Load byte at address, jump if not null ) POP POP2 BRK } ( When null, pop text pointer, halt ) #18 DEO ( Send byte to Console/write port ) INC2 !while ( Incr text pointer, jump to label ) @text ( Create text label ) "Hello 20 "from 20 "Uxn! 0a 00 . $ uxncli drifblim.rom hi.tal hi.rom Assembled hi.rom in 31 bytes. $ hd hi.rom 00000000 a0 01 12 94 06 20 00 03 02 22 00 80 18 17 21 40 |..... ..."....!@| 00000010 ff f1 48 65 6c 6c 6f 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 55 78 6e |..Hello from Uxn| 00000020 21 0a 00 |!..| $ stat -c %s hi.rom 35 $ uxncli hi.rom Hello from Uxn! ``` At 35 bytes, it’s the smallest hello-world executable I’ve seen. I like the sense of calm and cozyness. Next time I want to learn how to draw on a canvas. I’ll also enjoy reading and running the treasure of Uxntal programs in [`uxn-utils`](https://git.sr.ht/~rabbits/uxn-utils/), like a fine wine or novel. Going through the bootstrap from seed, it gave me ideas and insight into designing the lowest levels of a language runtime and abstract machine. And the [Varvara Zine](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/varvara_zine.html), I love the aesthetics and visual story-telling. * * * Prologue - I found a disassembler [`uxndis`](https://git.sr.ht/~rabbits/uxndis). I built it with `drifblim` (which I created earlier with `xh.txt`) and ran it on the original seed text. ```sh $ uxncli uxndis.rom xh.txt |0100 46 ( DUPr ) |0101 41 ( INCr ) |0102 46 ( DUPr ) |0103 41 ( INCr ) |0104 46 ( DUPr ) |0105 58 ( ADDr ) |0106 46 ( DUPr ) |0107 5a ( MULr ) |0108 46 ( DUPr ) |0109 77 ( DEO2r ) |010a 66 ( DUP2r ) |010b 61 ( INC2r ) |010c 61 ( INC2r ) |010d 6c ( JMP2r ) |010e 46 ( DUPr ) |010f 42 ( POPr ) |0110 46 ( DUPr ) |0111 41 ( INCr ) |0112 41 ( INCr ) |0113 46 ( DUPr ) |0114 46 ( DUPr ) |0115 5a ( MULr ) |0116 46 ( DUPr ) |0117 5a ( MULr ) |0118 58 ( ADDr ) |0119 56 ( DEIr ) |011a 47 ( OVRr ) |011b 66 ( DUP2r ) |011c 6f ( STH2r ) |011d 41 ( INCr ) |011e 41 ( INCr ) |011f 46 ( DUPr ) |0120 58 ( ADDr ) |0121 46 ( DUPr ) |0122 5a ( MULr ) |0123 46 ( DUPr ) |0124 46 ( DUPr ) |0125 58 ( ADDr ) |0126 58 ( ADDr ) |0127 66 ( DUP2r ) |0128 6f ( STH2r ) |0129 4b ( LTHr ) |012a 67 ( OVR2r ) |012b 61 ( INC2r ) |012c 61 ( INC2r ) |012d 6d ( JCN2r ) |012e 26 ( DUP2 ) |012f 2f ( STH2 ) |0130 24 ( SWP2 ) |0131 41 ( INCr ) |0132 41 ( INCr ) |0133 41 ( INCr ) |0134 46 ( DUPr ) |0135 58 ( ADDr ) |0136 4a ( GTHr ) |0137 67 ( OVR2r ) |0138 61 ( INC2r ) |0139 61 ( INC2r ) |013a 6d ( JCN2r ) |013b 26 ( DUP2 ) |013c 2f ( STH2 ) |013d 41 ( INCr ) |013e 46 ( DUPr ) |013f 41 ( INCr ) |0140 41 ( INCr ) |0141 46 ( DUPr ) |0142 58 ( ADDr ) |0143 46 ( DUPr ) |0144 46 ( DUPr ) |0145 5a ( MULr ) |0146 5a ( MULr ) |0147 44 ( SWPr ) |0148 59 ( SUBr ) |0149 4a ( GTHr ) |014a 46 ( DUPr ) |014b 24 ( SWP2 ) |014c 2f ( STH2 ) |014d 46 ( DUPr ) |014e 58 ( ADDr ) |014f 41 ( INCr ) |0150 4b ( LTHr ) |0151 46 ( DUPr ) |0152 7c ( AND2r ) |0153 42 ( POPr ) |0154 67 ( OVR2r ) |0155 61 ( INC2r ) |0156 61 ( INC2r ) |0157 6d ( JCN2r ) |0158 2f ( STH2 ) |0159 41 ( INCr ) |015a 41 ( INCr ) |015b 46 ( DUPr ) |015c 58 ( ADDr ) |015d 46 ( DUPr ) |015e 5a ( MULr ) |015f 46 ( DUPr ) |0160 58 ( ADDr ) |0161 67 ( OVR2r ) |0162 42 ( POPr ) |0163 46 ( DUPr ) |0164 41 ( INCr ) |0165 59 ( SUBr ) |0166 58 ( ADDr ) |0167 46 ( DUPr ) |0168 45 ( ROTr ) |0169 46 ( DUPr ) |016a 7c ( AND2r ) |016b 42 ( POPr ) |016c 47 ( OVRr ) |016d 47 ( OVRr ) |016e 6f ( STH2r ) |016f 47 ( OVRr ) |0170 41 ( INCr ) |0171 46 ( DUPr ) |0172 41 ( INCr ) |0173 46 ( DUPr ) |0174 58 ( ADDr ) |0175 46 ( DUPr ) |0176 5a ( MULr ) |0177 44 ( SWPr ) |0178 59 ( SUBr ) |0179 46 ( DUPr ) |017a 45 ( ROTr ) |017b 46 ( DUPr ) |017c 7c ( AND2r ) |017d 42 ( POPr ) |017e 2f ( STH2 ) |017f 44 ( SWPr ) |0180 41 ( INCr ) |0181 41 ( INCr ) |0182 46 ( DUPr ) |0183 58 ( ADDr ) |0184 5f ( SFTr ) |0185 67 ( OVR2r ) |0186 42 ( POPr ) |0187 41 ( INCr ) |0188 47 ( OVRr ) |0189 59 ( SUBr ) |018a 67 ( OVR2r ) |018b 44 ( SWPr ) |018c 41 ( INCr ) |018d 41 ( INCr ) |018e 46 ( DUPr ) |018f 58 ( ADDr ) |0190 46 ( DUPr ) |0191 58 ( ADDr ) |0192 41 ( INCr ) |0193 58 ( ADDr ) |0194 5a ( MULr ) |0195 45 ( ROTr ) |0196 45 ( ROTr ) |0197 5a ( MULr ) |0198 58 ( ADDr ) |0199 47 ( OVRr ) |019a 50 ( LDZr ) |019b 67 ( OVR2r ) |019c 42 ( POPr ) |019d 41 ( INCr ) |019e 41 ( INCr ) |019f 46 ( DUPr ) |01a0 58 ( ADDr ) |01a1 46 ( DUPr ) |01a2 46 ( DUPr ) |01a3 5a ( MULr ) |01a4 5a ( MULr ) |01a5 5f ( SFTr ) |01a6 5d ( ORAr ) |01a7 47 ( OVRr ) |01a8 51 ( STZr ) |01a9 46 ( DUPr ) |01aa 41 ( INCr ) |01ab 50 ( LDZr ) |01ac 47 ( OVRr ) |01ad 41 ( INCr ) |01ae 5e ( EORr ) |01af 47 ( OVRr ) |01b0 41 ( INCr ) |01b1 51 ( STZr ) |01b2 46 ( DUPr ) |01b3 41 ( INCr ) |01b4 50 ( LDZr ) |01b5 67 ( OVR2r ) |01b6 61 ( INC2r ) |01b7 61 ( INC2r ) |01b8 6d ( JCN2r ) |01b9 46 ( DUPr ) |01ba 50 ( LDZr ) |01bb 47 ( OVRr ) |01bc 41 ( INCr ) |01bd 41 ( INCr ) |01be 46 ( DUPr ) |01bf 58 ( ADDr ) |01c0 46 ( DUPr ) |01c1 58 ( ADDr ) |01c2 46 ( DUPr ) |01c3 46 ( DUPr ) |01c4 58 ( ADDr ) |01c5 58 ( ADDr ) |01c6 57 ( DEOr ) ``` A program of hand-written machine instructions with limited byte range, that functionally behaves the same as the following `xh.tal`. Maybe one day it’d be interesting to step through each instruction with a debugger ([`beetbug`](https://wiki.xxiivv.com/site/beetbug.html)) and understand exactly how it works. I’m guessing somewhere the number `10` is created out of thin air, to address the console device. ```forth |10 @Console &vector $2 &read $5 &type $1 &write $1 &error $1 |100 @on-reset ( -> ) ;on-console .Console/vector DEO2 [LIT2r 0101] BRK @on-console ( -> ) .Console/read DEI ( | make chex ) [LIT "0] SUB DUP #0a LTH ?{ #27 SUB DUP #10 LTH ?{ POP BRK } } ( | hb/lb ) INCr ANDkr STHr ?{ #40 SFT BRK } ORA #18 DEO BRK ``` ---
**Author:** ![neauoire](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/user_avatar/forum.malleable.systems/neauoire/32/215_2.png) [@neauoire](https://forum.malleable.systems/u/neauoire)\ **Post date:** [18 January 2026 16:10 UTC](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/hello-worlds-first-encounters-of-a-malleable-kind/399/2 "2026-01-18T16:10:57Z")
That’s amazing eliot! I’m glad it actually worked! I used it on my machine but it hasn’t been tested that extensively. There’s something I meant to write about in the other thread but couldn’t find how to plug it in, but your exploration in bootstrapping from an ascii rom reminded me of it. So, [Ribbit Scheme](https://github.com/udem-dlteam/ribbit) is another system where the [bytecode is within the readable range](https://github.com/udem-dlteam/ribbit/blob/main/docs/practical-guide-for-vm-markup-en.md), you might get a kick out of that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![eliot](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/user_avatar/forum.malleable.systems/eliot/32/249_2.png) [@eliot](https://forum.malleable.systems/u/eliot)\ **Post date:** [19 January 2026 11:16 UTC](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/hello-worlds-first-encounters-of-a-malleable-kind/399/3 "2026-01-19T11:16:07Z")
That seed text was a nice _hook_ in a literary sense, to enter the world of Uxn. I was motivated to solve the mystery. Building everything from source was a good way to understand it from the ground up. I’m looking forward to exploring the ecosystem around it. * * * **Ribbit** : a compact portable Scheme with runtime implemented in 25 languages. I especially like this [`rvm.wat`](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/udem-dlteam/ribbit/refs/heads/main/src/host/wat/rvm.wat) written in [WebAssembly Text](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/WebAssembly/Guides/Understanding_the_text_format) format. A thing of beauty. ```auto █▀█ █ █▄▄ █▄▄ █ ▀█▀ █▀▄ █ █▄█ █▄█ █ ░█░ A really, really small VM ``` Who can _not_ love this cuteness. I know by now, often the smallest simplest things are the most powerful. ```auto fr: Par exemple, voici la repl scheme encodé avec la RVM : en: For example, here is the repl scheme encoded with RVM: $ ./rsc -t rvm -l max tests/50-repl.scm -o ../presentation/04.txt R_J_~G_|]+9)`^YIka_CaJ`.Z+dCbAai$J`^~G_|]K#`kn8:^~i$#`kn8:^~i$#`kn8:^~i$#`kn8:^~WQ^~>w(O^~>kYF^~W^z]5#ZKa_l{])#a_k#k_k~>iS)_{!;.b.:RfCdbw(k~GCaJ`^|!O.R:h-w4k.Rf~>iS)fdAaaa^}(]&*i&^z]**Z&`^{]-*Z*b`^|!=*Z-ca_wC|!.#b`n8OfAi&AbwS'awS'`9+Aea_`~YN_C`.ci$.cTANdwS,ACFcwS&JFa.cACFbwS&~>JFbwS*~GCa_~>wS,^.ci$.cK^.cKZ-TANgwS+wS'wS'Z&Z*`wS'wS%~GNbFa~GCa_~>wS+^.ci%.cK^.cKTi$ANdxP^~GNbFa~GCa_~>xP^8OfNdF`J_`JF`~>wS%^8;cCa_~>wS&^#Z)exN#d~YGbZ(i&:RiS)NeZ%AAfi$i$akYE_nF`~>wA^.:EgZ=ecEfYHdboFa_~>wC^.Z5dYIlbFbYHa_~K>wB_8OfAi&AbwS'awS'`9+Aea_`~YN_C`.ci$.cTANdwS,ACFcwS&JFa.cACFbwS&~>JFbwS*~GCa_~>wS,^.ci$.cK^.cKZ-TANgwS+wS'wS'Z&Z*`wS'wS%~GNbFa~GCa_~>wS+^.ci%.cK^.cKTi$ANdxP^~GNbFa~GCa_~>xP^8OfNdF`J_`JF`~>wS%^8;cCa_~>wS&^#Z)exN#d~YGbZ(i&:RiS)NeZ%AAfi$i$akYE_nF`~>wA^.:EgZ=ecEfYHdboFa_~>wC^.Z5dYIlbFbYHa_~K^~^>wS#^#cFan~>wS.^J_~G_#bYIk``m~YN_|!?1_?H^{]71uy!9)i$89aC_?H^89aC_?H^?HvS#~K>vS#_89aC_?H^89aC_?H^?HvS#~K^~^>vE^89aC_?HvS;?HvS#~>t^89aC_?HvS9?HvS#~>v0^89aC_?HvS5?HvS#~>u^89aC_?H^~Z6`J^~G^{]3)i$)i$93C^?YPJ^~G^?HvC~G^z]'9'ZG^8?vS7vF~ZE^8PZJ^?HvF~ZC^89i$Z$^~Z9^9'ZL^~YN^1vL?Z3C^?YPJ^?HvK~G^8?vLvK~YG^8?vS;vF~>i%^8?vS-vF~Z6^z!P9'^1vE?Pi%Z$^?HvE~Z9^z];9;8L~>u^)^~Ik^Dy!L8L?D)^9;~>vR0^~I_vC)iS-~Z,^Sy!>8>A`^8>Aa^8>Aat~>vS;^8>Aav0~>vS9^8>Aau~>vS5^D~>vS#^9F_~>vE^)i&~Z,^Dz!K*YK^?D)i&~KKIvD`*YK^?D)i&~KK^~^>vL_*YK^?D)i&~K^~^>vK^Sy]8*Z8^YJ)i&?D~>vL^YLy!5)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~IvS.^~I_vS'5BBvR,_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~IvS.^~I_vS'5BBvR,_M`v3?D~IvR<^~I_vR55BBvR%_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~IvS.^~I_vS'5BBvR,_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~i$)_5BBvRL_M`v3?D~IvS.^~I_vS'5BBvR,_M`v3?D~IvR<^~I_vR55BBvR%_M`v3?D~IvR/^~I_vR$Sz!J9M`)^~^^ZB^Z#AYK^?D9#Ui&?D~>vE^*Ai&YJwS.?D~>vJ^92YJ+Lkk5k?D~>vP^S?D~K>vRM_92YJ+Lkk5k?D~>vP^S?D~K^~^>vS?^)i%?D~>vS;^)i$?D~>vS-^S?D~>vF^98?D~>vK^)^~Ik^YLy!<)^!S$^Dy]4)^!S$iS()^~>iS-^!S$^z!-94^94Z@~>iS(^)^~>iS-^iS$y!S$iS(],'iS-^z](#l`^{]EYDl]JiF]2#oYE_^z]CYDo]$iF]##nYE_^z]9YDn]0)_)i$)i$90BBvR%`MbuC_~IvR/^~I_vR$J^~G^{]190k^)i$~YG^z]B)i$+_k~^Z1^91C^~>vPJ^)i$~YG^Z$^z].)^9._`~IakAb^Z/BMu``vR%ZDu^{]G9#Z.i&^9#AZ.i&B`kvP~Ik^z?ZHki#]OOi#]>)^]OAjO^ZA^9>Oa_)^~YM`O^YF_~G_{]M9>jO^z]Li8]A#m_i$z!NYDm]<)_9pQ_~W_)^~^>`^{]6'i$^z!D9N)i$'bQ^~W^zz!S(Bmk!S-Blk!):lkl!(:lkm!4:lkn]N:lko!@:lkp!F:lkq!8:lkr!::lks]H:lku!':lkv/!2:lkv0]/:lkv1!+:lkv2!6:lkv3]D:lkv4]@:lkv5!1:lkv6y ``` You’re right, this gets me in the Sherlock mode. “Now what could that mysterious code mean..” I’ll be following the scent. - [An R4RS compliant REPL in 7KB](https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.13589) - SCHEME Workshop @ ICPF’23, January 2024 - [A Compact and Extensible Portable Scheme VM](http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~feeley/papers/OLearyFeeleyMOREVMS23.pdf) (PDF) - MoreVMs Workshop (MOREVMS@PROGRAMMING’23), March 2023 - [A Small Scheme VM, Compiler, and REPL in 4K](http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~feeley/papers/YvonFeeleyVMIL21.pdf) (PDF) - Workshop on Virtual Machines and Intermediate Languages (VMIL@SPLASH’21), October 2021 → See 2.11 **Compact Encoding of Instruction Graph** ---
**Author:** ![khinsen](https://forum-cdn.malleable.systems/user_avatar/forum.malleable.systems/khinsen/32/45_2.png) [@khinsen](https://forum.malleable.systems/u/khinsen)\ **Post date:** [20 January 2026 08:49 UTC](https://forum.malleable.systems/t/hello-worlds-first-encounters-of-a-malleable-kind/399/4 "2026-01-20T08:49:10Z")
Looking at the list of VM implementations for Ribbit, it strikes me that they are all for “big” languages and runtimes. What would a Ribbit VM look like in Sector Lisp? Or in Forth?