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{{Short description|Creative writing that includes computer code}}
'''Codework''' is "a type of creative writing which in some way references or incorporates formal computer languages ([[C++]], [[Perl]], etc.) within the text. The text itself is not necessarily code that will compile or run, though some have added that requirement as a form of constraint."<ref>{{cite web |title=Electronic Literature Collection, Vol 1: Keywords |url=https://collection.eliterature.org/1/aux/keywords.html |website=collection.eliterature.org |publisher=Electronic Literature Organization |accessdate=28 October 2020}}</ref> The concept of and term 'codework' was originally developed by [[Alan Sondheim]],<ref>Sondheim, A (2001). "Codework," ''American Book Review'', Vol 22, Issue 6.</ref> but is also practiced by and used to refer to the work of other Internet artists such as [[Mez Breeze]], [[Talan Memmott]] (especially in the work ''[[Lexia to Perplexia]]''), Ted Warnell, Brian Lennon, and [[John Cayley]].<ref name="ref1">{{cite web |last1=Raley |first1=Rita |title=Interferences: [Net.Writing] and the Practice of Codework |url=https://electronicbookreview.com/essay/interferences-net-writing-and-the-practice-of-codework/ |website=Electronic Book Review |accessdate=28 October 2020 |date=2002}}</ref> Scholar [[Rita Raley]] uses the term "[net.writing]," which she defines as "the use of the contemporary idiolect of the computer and computing processes in digital media experimental writing." Raley sees codework as part of a broader practice exploring "the art of code."<ref name="ref1" />

Codework has been used for many forms of writing, mostly [[poetry]] and [[fiction]]. Duc Thuan's [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929010700/http://www.ducthuan.com/JavaMoon/moon.htm ''Days of JavaMoon''] is an example of fiction in the codework style (in this case, using [[JavaScript]] syntax).<ref>{{cite web |title=Days of JavaMoon entry |url=https://directory.eliterature.org/individual-work/617 |website=Electronic Literature Directory |accessdate=29 October 2020 |date=8 December 2010}}</ref> For example:
<pre>
// Feeling.
if (ashamed++ == losing self-esteem.S_____ wasn't on diet) [re]solution =
would stop eating lunch next time;

// Result.
after all = S_____ couldn't resist to eat when see[sniff]ing food
("ate();", felt defeated & self-disgusted x 1000);
}
</pre>

A variety of examples of codework can be found in the Electronic Literature Collections published by the [[Electronic Literature Organization]], such as [[Alan Sondheim]]'s online performance ''Internet Text'' (1994-), [[Giselle Beiguelman]]'s ''Code Movie 1'' (2004), Dan Shiovitz's [[interactive fiction]] ''Bad Machine'' (1999) (Volume 1), [[Mez Breeze]]'s "netwurk repository" of "_mezangelles_," ''_cross.ova.ing ][4rm.blog.2.log][_'' (2003-), Bjørn Magnhildøen's live writing performance/text movie, ''PlainTextPerformance'' (2010), Ted Warnell's ''new media network'' (1994-), and [[Nick Montfort]]'s [[Perl]] poetry generator ''ppg256-1'' (2008) (Volume 2).

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [https://collection.eliterature.org/ Electronic Literature Collection]

[[Category:Internet art]]
[[Category:Genres of electronic literature]]
[[Category:Concepts in electronic literature]]

Codework - Revision history

imported>Lijil: added Category:Concepts in electronic literature using HotCat