I'm running the ICFP programming contest (2026)

# I'm running a programming contest · eieio.games Source: [https://eieio.games/blog/im-running-the-icfp-programming-contest/](https://eieio.games/blog/im-running-the-icfp-programming-contest/) [https://eieio.games/blog/im-running-the-icfp-programming-contest/](https://eieio.games/blog/im-running-the-icfp-programming-contest/)It started an hour ago Jul 24, 2026 I’ve spent the last few months working with my friends[Frank](https://www.frankchiarulli.com/),[Henry](https://github.com/hcnelson99), and[Eliot](https://github.com/eliothedeman)to design the 29th annual[ICFP Programming Contest](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICFP_Programming_Contest)\. The contest began an hour ago \(I meant to mention this sooner, sorry\!\) and runs for 3 days\. If you’d like, you can[sign up at icfpcontest2026\.com](https://icfpcontest2026.com/)\. Of course, we spent a*lot*of time thinking about how to design a fun programming contest in the age of AI agents\. It would not be satisfying if the winning strategy for the contest was to run an unmonitored agent in a loop for 72 hours\. Loading\.\.\. a simple program in the littleman language So for the contest we’ve designed a new language we call “littleman\.” Littleman programs are two dimensional and place a heavy emphasis on spatial reasoning \- your little men must physically*walk over*instructions to execute them, and they exchange data with “pipes” that you draw in your program’s source code\. We’ve written a[textbook about the littleman programming language](https://icfpcontest2026.com/textbook)\. It’s open to everyone, so you can check it out even if you’re not registered for the contest\. Enjoy\!