Folders: A Non-Textual Programming Language Using Directory Structure

Concept of Folders Language

Folders is a non-textual programming language where the structure of directories and their alphabetical order define the code. The names of the folders themselves are disregarded, focusing solely on their containment and arrangement within the file system. This approach aims for 'dematerialized code', similar to the Whitespace language.

Origin and Inspiration

The language was created in 2015 and updated in 2026. It was inspired by the concept of empty files and the observation that empty folders in Windows take up no disk space. This led to the idea of using folders to represent code and data, theoretically offering infinite storage capacity by encoding information in folder names.

Encoding Program Logic

In Folders, commands are represented by a parent folder containing at least one child folder. The number of subfolders in the first child folder (alphabetically) determines the command type. Arguments for commands are indicated by a second child folder, and some commands may require a third. Expressions follow a similar structure, with the number of subfolders in the first child determining the expression type.

Data Storage and I/O

Temporary data in Folders is stored as folders, where the folder's name holds the data. The interpreter does not create temporary files, instead using a set of temporary folders for anything not held in memory. The preferred input/output method for Folders programs also involves using sets of folders, allowing for data encoding entirely within the file system's directory structure.