PATH programming language

If you're an average programmer, it's safe to say that PATH is a very different programming language than what you're used to. It's reminiscent of the memory cell architecture in Brainf*ck and the two-dimensional approach of Befunge programmers. To be specific, PATH programs are laid out on a two-dimensional grid with a path of instructions. As the name suggests, the program turns 90 degrees when instructed to. The interpreter identifies all recognized characters as instruction symbols.

Here's a simple example of a PATH program in ASCII, which spells out the word "PATH." Although it's a standard program featured on the PATH program homepage and pre-equipped with the interpreter, it serves as an excellent illustration. The program merely beeps on the console, and it will be explained in detail below.

When interpreting a PATH program, the interpreter starts at the first "$" symbol it comes across and moves to the right. At every valid instruction symbol, it runs the task specified, and it switches direction when it detects specific symbols. The interpreter carries on until it reaches the "#" symbol, at which point it stops. If it encounters a character that is not a valid instruction symbol, it ignores and goes ahead to skip it.