# 93% of Paint Splatters Are Valid Perl Programs

An empirical study explores the intersection of abstract art and programming language syntax.

- **Source:** [Hacker News: Front Page](https://brifing.si/source/b07aa772-b1a0-4a76-aa18-719c6f9e2dde)
- **Published:** 2026-11-11
- **Topic:** [technology](https://brifing.si/c/technology)
- **Original article:** <https://www.mcmillen.dev/sigbovik/>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2a8e86a4-a8d2-4b37-a306-a2ee6652601d

## The Artistic Syntax Hypothesis

Researchers investigated whether random paint splatters could function as valid Perl code. By applying optical character recognition to abstract art, the study sought to determine if visual chaos inherently contains executable logic. This unconventional experiment was presented at the 2019 SIGBOVIK conference, highlighting the intersection of computational linguistics and random visual patterns.

## Empirical Methodology and Results

The team analyzed a dataset of 100 paint-splatter images to test their parsing capabilities. Using OCR software, they discovered that 93% of the splatters were recognized as valid Perl programs. The remaining 7% failed to parse, proving that while high, the probability of paint forming valid code is not absolute.

## Parsing Visual Data

The researchers utilized OCR settings to convert visual splatters into text strings. When multiple interpretations arose, the authors selected the most aesthetically interesting result based on personal preference. This subjective curation process emphasizes the playful nature of the study, which prioritizes creative exploration over strictly rigorous software engineering standards or practices.

## Numerical and String Evaluations

Specific splatters yielded surprising functional outputs during the evaluation phase. For instance, the string lerzfijglpFiji-j evaluates to the number zero within the Perl environment. Similarly, the character sequence -*? also resolves to zero, demonstrating how arbitrary visual noise can be interpreted as valid, albeit nonsensical, instructions by the language interpreter.

## Complex String Interpretations

Beyond simple numerical values, some splatters produced complex string outputs. One particular image was parsed as a sequence containing semicolons and special characters, ultimately evaluating to the character c. Another splatter was recognized as E__, showcasing the unpredictable ways that OCR software maps irregular visual shapes onto standard ASCII character sets.

## Conference Context and Recognition

The paper was accepted for publication at SIGBOVIK 2019, held in Pittsburgh on April 1st. It received an Unwitting Participation Ribbon, a humorous distinction awarded to papers containing genuine artifacts. This recognition underscores the event's commitment to open science, even when the subject matter is intentionally whimsical or highly unconventional.

## Data Availability and Limitations

The authors provided a tarball containing the 100 images used as the primary dataset for the study. However, the source code for the project remains unavailable, as the researcher noted difficulties with GitHub management. Interested readers can access the full proceedings on page 174 of the official 2019 conference documentation.

## Implications for Computational Aesthetics

This study serves as a lighthearted exploration of how programming languages interpret non-traditional inputs. By demonstrating that 93% of random splatters possess valid syntax, the authors challenge perceptions of code structure. It remains a notable example of fruitful procrastination, blending technical analysis with artistic curiosity in a unique, academic setting.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.mcmillen.dev/sigbovik/ — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._