When Lyrics Become Code: Programming Like a Rock Star
Ildar Akhmetov

i.akhmetov@northeastern.edu
Northeastern University
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Abstract

3

This workshop introduces educators to Rockstar,1 an esoteric programming language that looks and feels like writing rock song
lyrics. Although we do not advocate teaching entire CS1/CS2 courses
with Rockstar, we believe there is room in the CS curriculum for esoteric languages as an additional activity, a co-curricular workshop,
or part of a student club. By stepping outside the familiar realm
of Python, Java, or C, participants learn to refocus on problemsolving and foundational logic rather than standard syntactic patterns. Moreover, because esoteric languages are relatively unknown
to AI models, they can help reduce over-reliance on automated solutions. Attendees will learn the basics of Rockstar, reflect on how to
integrate it into teaching contexts for enriched conceptual learning,
and enjoy the playful fusion of code and rock songs.

This workshop is designed for educators seeking novel ways to
enrich their teaching practice. We assume participants have basic
proficiency in at least one programming language (e.g., Python, Java,
C++) and have never encountered Rockstar before. Rather than substituting Rockstar for a standard CS1/CS2 curriculum, the goal is to
present it as a valuable supplement—for workshops, clubs, or short
classroom demonstrations. Participants will discover how the playful, lyrical nature of Rockstar helps emphasize core problem-solving
skills while simultaneously reducing reliance on AI “auto-solutions.”
Ultimately, the session aims to offer a fun, creative environment
that celebrates the joy of programming and the spirit of rock music.

CCS Concepts
• Social and professional topics → Computing education.

Keywords
esoteric programming languages, Rockstar, computing education,
creative coding
ACM Reference Format:
Ildar Akhmetov. 2025. When Lyrics Become Code: Programming Like a Rock
Star. In Proceedings of the 27th Western Canadian Conference on
Computing Education (WCCCE). April 28–29, 2025, Calgary, Canada. 1
page. https://doi.org/10.60770/M5J4-MQ15

1 Workshop Title and Duration
When Lyrics Become Code: Programming Like a Rock Star
Expected Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

2 Presenter and Background
Presenter: Ildar Akhmetov is the director of computing programs
for Vancouver and an associate teaching professor in the Khoury
College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. He has
taught at universities in Russia and Canada, with research interests
in computing education and software engineering. Since 1998, he
has learned at least one new programming language each year,
spanning widely used options to esoteric ones like Rockstar.
1 https://codewithrockstar.com/

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution
International 4.0 License.
WCCCE ’25, Calgary, AB, Canada
© 2025 Copyright held by the owner/author.
https://doi.org/10.60770/M5J4-MQ15

Workshop Description and Format

3.1

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, participants will: Understand Rockstar’s key syntactic elements (variables, poetic numbers, arithmetic
constructs); Experience writing and executing Rockstar programs
in a web-based environment; Reflect on and discuss how esoteric
programming can enrich mainstream curricula as an extracurricular or teaching supplement; Enjoy the creative process of turning
code into an audio “performance” via AI tools.

3.2

Session Outline

(1) Hello, Rockstar (5 min). Demonstration of a simple “Hello
Vancouver!” in Rockstar, highlighting lyrical print statements.
(2) Introduction (5 min). Presenter background and overview
of why esoteric languages, especially Rockstar, can promote
deeper conceptual engagement.
(3) Rockstar Basics (20 min). Walkthrough of variables, poetic
numbers, and arithmetic structures. Live coding demonstration to show how these features look and feel.
(4) AI Performance (5 min). Generating a short Rockstar program and letting an AI tool “sing” it, showcasing the playful
synergy between code, lyrics, and tech.
(5) Small Group Experimentation (15 min). Educators form
pairs or small groups, writing Rockstar programs for simple
tasks (arithmetic, printing lines, etc.).
(6) Group Sharing & Discussion (10 min). Volunteers run
and share their lyrical code; reflections on surprise and engagement.
(7) Further Example: Temperature Conversion (20 min).
Collaboration on a more complex example using poetic numbers and descriptive variables.
(8) Pedagogical Opportunities (20 min). Discussion on how
Rockstar can be integrated into the classroom or clubs as
an additional resource. Brainstorming ways to reduce AI
dependency and spark genuine enthusiasm for coding fundamentals.