Misused: Powers As Programs

Based on the opening quote:

Guy 1: But how are you flying? Guy 2: I just typed "import antigravity". Guy 1: That's it? Guy 2: ...I also sampled everything in the medicine cabinet for comparison. But I think this is the Python. — xkcd #353 - Python

it appears that Powers as Programs is for powers that work like a programming language, but... in the description, it says that:

[Powers and Special Abilties] can be added, removed, or copied without physiological change...

which is basically a power transfer I think... and then the examples use the idea that this trope is powers that work in like programming... So, disconnect there... Any questions?

Go by the description/definition, not the page quote or the image. Those can be and often are changed simply because someone thought that their idea was funnier/better/more clever than the one previously in use.

In this case, the description is correct: powers that can be added, removed or copied between characters like a computer program

Thank you for that. So, the examples of programming-like magic/power systems are actually Formulaic Magic?

For example, in Literature:

Magic in The Dragon Knight books involves creating a computer-code-like statement in your mind. In fact, Jim is particularly good at clever use of spells because of his passing knowledge of computer programming.

&

Taken to extremes in Rick Cook's Wiz Biz series, where a computer programmer pulled from Earth to a fantasy world invents a programming language for magic spells.

Also, what is an example of a power transfer that is not Powers as Programs?

edited 31st Jul '14 4:34:08 PM by Malady

The way I always think of this trope is, how come alien and mutant superheroes, whose powers are presumably an innate part of their physiology and come with the requisite Required Secondary Powers, can have their superpowers stripped by Applied Phlebotinum and rendered just like ordinary humans? It's basically commenting on the tendency to treat superpowers or other similar things, regardless of origin, common sense, or Fridge Logic, as "human + Super-Strength + Flight + Intangible Man + etc.", with each power coming as a discrete entity that gets added on to the basic human "template", and that can be removed without ill effects.

The metaphor is probably being more confusing than helpful; the first time I saw it, yea back in the early days of the wiki, my first thought was of a different meaning of "program". The description is not great either, again owing to the trope's age. Both of your examples are pretty clearly misuse. For reference, here's the Internet Archive's oldest version of the page.

Probably most cases of power transfer would, in fact, fall under this trope, with the exception of Viral Transformation and anything involving technology (cyborgs or Nanomachines), where the trope is justified. Note that version 2 of Super-Empowering is potholed to this page.

So, there is a problem then, yes? If so, what should be done about it?

I don't think there is a problem at all here. The trope is when Magic and Powers in a fictional universe work like computer programs in Real Life. Python is a programming language; Magic and Powers operating like a programming language would count.

I don't see a problem with the trope. The quote is misleading, since the trope is about how the powers act, not how they're constructed.

So, what is Powers as Programs?

• Is it for Magic and Powers that operate like computer programs? If so, should the computer program style powers be moved to Formulaic Magic?

• Or, according to the [[Laconic:Powers as Programs Laconic]], the trope is for:
  • Superpowers made equippable, replicable and/or transferable.

According to that, Powers as Programs is for powers that can be taken, stored, duplicated and given to someone else, with either of those three qualities making it applicable for this trope?

Is it one of them?, both? Neither?

edited 1st Aug '14 8:50:48 AM by Malady

Is it for Magic and Powers that operate like computer programs? Or is it for Magic and Powers that can be removed, and/or copied completely, like totally removing someone's mutation?

These things are not mutually exclusive. Besides, both of them can be inspired by Real Life computer programs.

Thread has been inactive over a few months, and it seems like the quote is the only issue, which I will take to the quotes topic. Closing this, in the meantime.