Knights of the Lambda Calculus

{{Short description|Semi-fictional hacking organization}}

{{notability|date=July 2024}}

Image:Knights of the Lambda Calculus.svg. Y in the emblem refers to the fixed-point combinator and the reappearance of the picture in itself refers to recursion.]]

The Knights of the Lambda Calculus is a semi-fictional organization of expert Lisp and Scheme hackers. 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.{{FOLDOC|Knights+of+the+Lambda+Calculus}}

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 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.{{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 }}