Editing Knights of the Lambda Calculus

{{Short description|Semi-fictional hacking organization}}
{{notability|date=July 2024}}
[[Image:Knights of the Lambda Calculus.svg|thumb|The '''Knights of the Lambda Calculus'''' recursive emblem celebrates LISP's theoretical foundation, the [[lambda calculus]]. Y in the emblem refers to the [[fixed-point combinator]] and the [[Droste effect|reappearance of the picture in itself]] refers to [[recursion]].]]

The '''Knights of the Lambda Calculus''' is a semi-fictional organization of expert [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]] and [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]] [[Hacker (programmer subculture)|hacker]]s. The name refers to the [[lambda calculus]], a mathematical formalism invented by [[Alonzo Church]], with which Lisp is intimately connected, and references the [[Knights Templar]].<ref>{{FOLDOC|Knights+of+the+Lambda+Calculus}}</ref>

There is no actual organization that goes by the name ''Knights of the Lambda Calculus''; it mostly only exists as a [[hacker culture]] in-joke. The concept most likely originated at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]]. For example, in the [[Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs]] [http://www.swiss.ai.mit.edu/classes/6.001/abelson-sussman-lectures/ video lectures], [[Gerald Jay Sussman]] presents the audience with the button, saying they are now members of this special group. However, according to the [[Jargon File]], a "well-known LISPer" has been known to give out buttons with Knights insignia on them, and some people have claimed to have membership in the Knights.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/K/Knights-of-the-Lambda-Calculus.html | title = Knights of the Lambda Calculus | work = The Jargon File | last = Raymond | first = Eric | access-date = 2015-04-01 }}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
A group that evolved from, or is similar to them, called ''The Knights of Eastern Calculus'', makes a major appearance in the [[anime]] series ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]'', the logo of which is a reference to [[Freemasonry]]. References to [[MIT]] professors and other American computer scientists are prominent in Episode 9 of the series. At one point in the anime, Lain is seen with code displayed on her handheld device that appears to be Lisp.<ref>{{cite web|title=MIT Anime Club :: Appearance of MIT in Anime|url=http://anime.mit.edu/resources/mit_in_anime.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131063155/https://anime.mit.edu/resources/mit_in_anime.php|archive-date=Jan 31, 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knights Of The Lambda Calculus}}
[[Category:Lambda calculus]]
[[Category:Fictional knights|Lambda Calculus]]
[[Category:In-jokes]]


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