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Lambda Calculus in 400 Bytes

justine.lol Software & code Source code Computer science Candidate

Resurfaced independently across 3 calendar years, with breakout response in 2 of them.

submissions
3
submitters
3
observed span
2022–2025
peak thread · 63 comments
568 pts
latest 20+ return · 2025-01-13
313 pts

Submission timeline

2007–2026

One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.

First comments on top threads

HN comment order

I feel like you could build a semester-long university course out of this single web page, and it would be a really valuable way to spend that semester.

simonw·568-point thread·

I've been attracted to this - along with 2D cellular automata - a bit like a moth to a flame for some time. I find the little machine visualisations mesmerising, the heavily parenthesized Greek representation charming (they look like standing orders written in an alien language, looking for all the world like space invaders) and the tiny code sizes magical. But I can't quite wrap my mind around the core concepts and internalize them into a mental model. It's too…

exikyut·313-point thread·

The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.

Breakout years
2

100+ points or 50+ comments

Total points
885

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Total comments
112

reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking

Every submission

DateTitle as submittedByPointsComments
2022-02-27Lambda Calculus in 400 BytesFirst breakout · Best threadmmphosis56863
2023-06-02Lambda Calculus in 383 Bytes (2022)peter_d_sherman40
2025-01-13Lambda Calculus in 383 Bytes (2022)Latest 20+ point returnMrBuddyCasino31349