You Are The Code

You Are The Code is a programming puzzle game set inside a fictional operating system. Each puzzle is about producing a specific text output by running prewritten commands in the right order. The game is a playful exploration of the many possibilities offered by a custom programming language, and relying on prewritten code makes it particularly approachable.

Everything in You Are The Code takes place in the folders and files of a minimal computer. The puzzles are text files containing a small number of prewritten lines of code. You can select any line you’re interested in and run its contents. While the game deals with actual programming concepts, it never requires any typing. The goal of each puzzle is to run the lines in the right order and print characters that match a desired output.

The programming language used within the game is based on common, explicit keywords such as run, store and output. Many puzzles involve swapping specific lines using (you guessed it) the swap command. Some levels also include literal bugs that eat away the lines they’re positioned at, removing one character every time you go up or down a line. At first the bugs may look like a problem, but when handled properly, their ability to alter the text can be the key to producing the required characters.

The levels are segmented across folders; each folder relies on a new command or showcases a previously unexplored mechanic. The second half of the game relies on powerful system features such as global variables and variable name editing. The focus is on playing with many different rules though, so the puzzle complexity is always kept in check.

This description was written by Oriane Tury.