The Howdy Glossary

Pike is a general-purpose programming language developed by Fredrik Hübinette in the late 1990s, later enhanced by a team at Roxen Internet Software. With syntax resembling other C-style languages, Pike supports advanced data types, graphics creation, and dynamic image generation. It emphasizes rapid development for sophisticated web applications, making it suitable for server-side scripting and web service development without requiring additional libraries or tools.

Pike stands out due to its built-in functionalities that set it apart from similar languages. These include support for advanced data types such as strings, arrays, and mappings that facilitate efficient programming and integrated capabilities for drawing graphics and generating images dynamically. This focus on rapid development and powerful built-in features uniquely tailors Pike for creating complex web applications efficiently without reliance on external resources.

In the competitive landscape of web development languages like PHP, Python, Ruby, and JavaScript, Pike differentiates itself through its comprehensive built-in support for advanced functionalities crucial to web application development—rendering additional libraries unnecessary. Its emphasis on ease of use is bolstered by C-style syntax familiar to developers experienced with C-like languages. These attributes collectively position Pike as a robust choice that prioritizes efficiency and productivity in developing sophisticated server-side scripts and web services.