About

Board Game Language (BGL, pronounced "bagel") is a cross-platform natural language syntax programming language for first-time programmers. It uses board games as a metaphor for programming concepts, with the goal of teaching first-time programmers the foundations of programming.

BGL allows a programmer to create board games by specifying, in plain English, how they are put together. BGL is powerful enough to create and play games like solitaire, checkers, and chess.

Creating board games allows the first-time programmer to learn programming concepts through a familiar lens. The tutorial section introduces the programmer to the foundations of programming through a series of analogies to aspects of board games.

The language began as Andrew Riker's Master's thesis at Brandeis University in 2009. The programming language continues as an effort to help anyone who needs or wants to learn how to program.

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