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C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

+,1;=aimn[]{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1...+1...+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

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C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

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C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 5 characters

+1;=$

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Try It Online!

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

+,1;=aimn[]{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1...+1...+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

+,1;=aimn[]{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1...+1...+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 5 characters

+1;=$

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Try It Online!

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

the code uses [] and not (). That's really my only substantive change, but since "edits must be at least 6 characters", I also made the explanation of the form of the 1+1+1 constraints not imply that they all have to be single 1 digits.
Source Link
edit approved Feb 13, 2023 at 3:11
Wyatt Carpenter
edit approved Feb 13, 2023 at 3:11
Wyatt Carpenter
  • 103
  • 2

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

()+,1;=aimn1;=aimn[]{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1+1+11...+1...+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

()+,1;=aimn{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1+1+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

+,1;=aimn[]{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1...+1...+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

deleted 3679 characters in body
Source Link
ceilingcat
ceilingcat
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C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

()+,1;=aimn{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1+1+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+1111111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+111111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+111111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1+11111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+111111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainn=1111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111;mainnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

()+,1;=aimn{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1+1+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,1111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1,1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1,111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11,11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1,111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1,111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainn=1111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111;mainnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

C (unportable), 24 18 13 characters

()+,1;=aimn{}

This covers all programs of the form

main[]={<sequence of constants>};

...where the sequence of constants (of the form 1+1+1...) contains the machine code representation of your program. This assumes that your environment permits all memory segments to be executed (apparently true for tcc [thanks @Dennis!] and some machines without NX bit). Otherwise, for Linux and OSX you may have to prepend the keyword const and for Windows you may have to add a #pragma explicitly marking the segment as executable.

As an example, the following program written in the above style prints Hello, World! on Linux and OSX on x86 and x86_64.

main[]={11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1,111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11,111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1,1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1,1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1,111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1,11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1,1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11,11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1,111111111+11111+11111+111+1};

Try it online!

C (gcc) (unportable), 24 18 13 8 characters

+1;=aimn

It is possible to build any program using fewer than 13 distinct characters by abusing the linker and laying out the machine code in such a way that it spans several scalar variables. This technique is much more sensitive to toolchain particulars. The following is the above program converted to this format for gcc

main=11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1;mainn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+11111111+11111111+111111+1111+111+111+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnn=111111111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+11+11+1;mainnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+111+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnn=11111111111111111+111111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+11111111+11111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111111+111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnn=11111111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+1111111+1111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnn=111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111+1111111+1111111+11111+11111+11111+111+11+11;mainnnnnnnnn=111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111+111111111+111111111+111111111+1111111+111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1;mainnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111+1111111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+1111111111+1111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+1111111+111111+11111+1111+111+111+111+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111111111111+111111111111+11111111111+111111111+111111+1111+1111+1111+11+11+11+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111+11111111111+11111111111+1111111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+1111+111+111+1+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=1111111111111111+1111111111111111+11111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+1111111+111111+11111+11111+11111+11111+111+111+11+11+11;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=11111111111111111+11111111111111111+1111111111111+111111111+111111111+11111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+111111+11111+111+111+111+11+11+11+11+11+1;mainnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn=111111111+11111+11111+111+1;

Try it online!

It is possible to represent any program with 5 distinct characters +1;=a by replacing main with a shorter entry point.

Thanks to @Bubbler for 8 -> 5

Edit: More compact encoding in example programs.

added 5814 characters in body
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