View source for Dutch national flag problem

{{task}}
[[File:Dutch_flag_3.jpg|350px||right]]

The Dutch national flag is composed of three coloured bands in the order:
::* &nbsp; red &nbsp; &nbsp; (top)
::* &nbsp; then white, &nbsp; and
::* &nbsp; lastly blue &nbsp; (at the bottom). 


The problem posed by [[wp:Edsger Dijkstra|Edsger Dijkstra]] is:
:Given a number of red, blue and white balls in random order, arrange them in the order of the colours in the Dutch national flag.
When the problem was first posed, Dijkstra then went on to successively refine a solution, minimising the number of swaps and the number of times the colour of a ball needed to determined and restricting the balls to end in an array, ...


;Task
# Generate a randomized order of balls ''ensuring that they are not in the order of the Dutch national flag''.
# Sort the balls in a way idiomatic to your language.
# Check the sorted balls ''are'' in the order of the Dutch national flag.


;C.f.:
* [[wp:Dutch national flag problem|Dutch national flag problem]]
* [https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C1DSGK_enGB472GB472&sugexp=chrome,mod=8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=Dutch+national+flag+problem#hl=en&rlz=1C1DSGK_enGB472GB472&sclient=psy-ab&q=Probabilistic+analysis+of+algorithms+for+the+Dutch+national+flag+problem&oq=Probabilistic+analysis+of+algorithms+for+the+Dutch+national+flag+problem&gs_l=serp.3...60754.61818.1.62736.1.1.0.0.0.0.72.72.1.1.0...0.0.Pw3RGungndU&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=c33d18147f5082cc&biw=1395&bih=951 Probabilistic analysis of algorithms for the Dutch national flag problem] by Wei-Mei Chen. (pdf)
<br><br>

=={{header|11l}}==
{{trans|Python: Construct from ball counts}}

<syntaxhighlight lang="11l">V colours_in_order = ‘Red White Blue’.split(‘ ’)

F dutch_flag_sort3(items)
   [String] r
   L(colour) :colours_in_order
      r.extend([colour] * items.count(colour))
   R r

V balls = [‘Red’, ‘Red’, ‘Blue’, ‘Blue’, ‘Blue’, ‘Red’, ‘Red’, ‘Red’, ‘White’, ‘Blue’]
print(‘Original Ball order: ’balls)
V sorted_balls = dutch_flag_sort3(balls)
print(‘Sorted Ball Order: ’sorted_balls)</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
Original Ball order: [Red, Red, Blue, Blue, Blue, Red, Red, Red, White, Blue]
Sorted Ball Order: [Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue]
</pre>

=={{header|ABAP}}==
This works for ABAP Version 7.40 and above, the color blue is excluded as an option for the last entry to insure an unsorted sequence.

<syntaxhighlight lang="abap">
report z_dutch_national_flag_problem.

interface sorting_problem.
  methods:
    generate_unsorted_sequence
      importing
        lenght_of_sequence       type int4
      returning
        value(unsorted_sequence) type string,

    sort_sequence
      changing
        sequence_to_be_sorted type string,

    is_sorted
      importing
        sequence_to_check type string
      returning
        value(sorted)     type abap_bool.
endinterface.


class dutch_national_flag_problem definition.
  public section.
    interfaces:
      sorting_problem.


    constants:
      begin of dutch_flag_colors,
        red   type char1 value 'R',
        white type char1 value 'W',
        blue  type char1 value 'B',
      end of dutch_flag_colors.
endclass.


class dutch_national_flag_problem implementation.
  method sorting_problem~generate_unsorted_sequence.
    data(random_int_generator) = cl_abap_random_int=>create(
      seed = cl_abap_random=>seed( )
      min = 0
      max = 2 ).

    do lenght_of_sequence - 1 times.
      data(random_int) = random_int_generator->get_next( ).

      data(next_color) = cond char1(
        when random_int eq 0 then dutch_flag_colors-red
        when random_int eq 1 then dutch_flag_colors-white
        when random_int eq 2 then dutch_flag_colors-blue ).

      unsorted_sequence = |{ unsorted_sequence }{ next_color }|.
    enddo.

    if strlen( unsorted_sequence ) > 0.
      random_int = random_int_generator->get_next( ).

      next_color = cond char1(
        when random_int eq 0 or random_int eq 2 then dutch_flag_colors-red
        when random_int eq 1 then dutch_flag_colors-white ).

      unsorted_sequence = |{ unsorted_sequence }{ next_color }|.
    endif.
  endmethod.


  method sorting_problem~sort_sequence.
    data(low_index) = 0.
    data(middle_index) = 0.
    data(high_index) = strlen( sequence_to_be_sorted ) - 1.

    while middle_index <= high_index.
      data(current_color) = sequence_to_be_sorted+middle_index(1).

      if current_color eq dutch_flag_colors-red.
        data(buffer) = sequence_to_be_sorted+low_index(1).

        sequence_to_be_sorted = replace(
          val = sequence_to_be_sorted
          off = middle_index
          len = 1
          with = buffer ).

        sequence_to_be_sorted = replace(
          val = sequence_to_be_sorted
          off = low_index
          len = 1
          with = current_color ).

        low_index = low_index + 1.

        middle_index = middle_index + 1.
      elseif current_color eq dutch_flag_colors-blue.
        buffer = sequence_to_be_sorted+high_index(1).

        sequence_to_be_sorted = replace(
          val = sequence_to_be_sorted
          off = middle_index
          len = 1
          with = buffer ).

        sequence_to_be_sorted = replace(
          val = sequence_to_be_sorted
          off = high_index
          len = 1
          with = current_color ).

        high_index = high_index - 1.
      else.
        middle_index = middle_index + 1.
      endif.
    endwhile.
  endmethod.


  method sorting_problem~is_sorted.
    sorted = abap_true.

    do strlen( sequence_to_check ) - 1 times.
      data(current_character_index) = sy-index - 1.
      data(current_color) = sequence_to_check+current_character_index(1).
      data(next_color) = sequence_to_check+sy-index(1).

      sorted = cond abap_bool(
        when ( current_color eq dutch_flag_colors-red and
               ( next_color eq current_color or
                 next_color eq dutch_flag_colors-white or
                 next_color eq dutch_flag_colors-blue ) )
             or
             ( current_color eq dutch_flag_colors-white and
               ( next_color eq current_color or
                 next_color eq dutch_flag_colors-blue ) )
             or
             ( current_color eq dutch_flag_colors-blue and
               current_color eq next_color )
        then sorted
        else abap_false ).

      check sorted eq abap_false.
      return.
    enddo.
  endmethod.
endclass.


start-of-selection.
  data dutch_national_flag_problem type ref to sorting_problem.

  dutch_national_flag_problem = new dutch_national_flag_problem( ).

  data(sequence) = dutch_national_flag_problem->generate_unsorted_sequence( 20 ).

  write:|{ sequence }, is sorted? -> { dutch_national_flag_problem->is_sorted( sequence ) }|, /.

  dutch_national_flag_problem->sort_sequence( changing sequence_to_be_sorted = sequence ).

  write:|{ sequence }, is sorted? -> { dutch_national_flag_problem->is_sorted( sequence ) }|, /.
</syntaxhighlight>

{{output}}
<pre>
RBWRWWRBWWRWBBRBRRWR, is sorted? ->

RRRRRRRRWWWWWWWBBBBB, is sorted? -> X
</pre>

=={{header|Action!}}==
{{libheader|Action! Tool Kit}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="action!">INCLUDE "D2:SORT.ACT" ;from the Action! Tool Kit

PROC PrintArray(BYTE ARRAY a BYTE len)
  CHAR ARRAY colors(3)=['R 'W 'B]
  BYTE i,index

  FOR i=0 TO len-1
  DO
    index=a(i)
    Put(colors(index))
  OD
RETURN

BYTE FUNC IsSorted(BYTE ARRAY a BYTE len)
  BYTE i
  
  IF len<=1 THEN
    RETURN (1)
  FI
  FOR i=0 TO len-2
  DO
    IF a(i)>a(i+1) THEN
      RETURN (0)
    FI
  OD
RETURN (1)

PROC Randomize(BYTE ARRAY a BYTE len)
  BYTE i

  FOR i=0 TO len-1
  DO
    a(i)=Rand(3)
  OD
RETURN

PROC Main()
  DEFINE SIZE="30"
  BYTE ARRAY a(SIZE)

  Put(125) PutE() ;clear the screen
  DO
    Randomize(a,SIZE)
  UNTIL IsSorted(a,SIZE)=0
  OD
  PrintE("Unsorted:") PrintArray(a,SIZE)
  PutE() PutE()

  SortB(a,SIZE,0)
  PrintE("Sorted:") PrintArray(a,SIZE)
  PutE() PutE()

  IF IsSorted(a,SIZE) THEN
    PrintE("Sorting is valid")
  ELSE
    PrintE("Sorting is invalid!")
  FI
RETURN</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
[https://gitlab.com/amarok8bit/action-rosetta-code/-/raw/master/images/Dutch_national_flag_problem.png Screenshot from Atari 8-bit computer]
<pre>
Unsorted:
RBWBWRRRRRWBWRWRRBBWBBBRRWWRRR

Sorted:
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRWWWWWWWWBBBBBBBB

Sorting is valid
</pre>

=={{header|Ada}}==

<syntaxhighlight lang="ada">with Ada.Text_IO, Ada.Numerics.Discrete_Random, Ada.Command_Line;

procedure Dutch_National_Flag is

   type Colour_Type is (Red, White, Blue);

   Number: Positive range 2 .. Positive'Last :=
     Positive'Value(Ada.Command_Line.Argument(1));
   -- no sorting if the Number of balls is less than 2

   type Balls is array(1 .. Number) of Colour_Type;

   function Is_Sorted(B: Balls) return Boolean is
      -- checks if balls are in order
   begin
      for I in Balls'First .. Balls'Last-1 loop
         if B(I) > B(I+1) then
            return False;
         end if;
      end loop;
      return True;
   end Is_Sorted;

   function Random_Balls return Balls is
      -- generates an array of random balls, ensuring they are not in order
      package Random_Colour is new Ada.Numerics.Discrete_Random(Colour_Type);
      Gen: Random_Colour.Generator;
      B: Balls;
   begin
      Random_Colour.Reset(Gen);
      loop
         for I in Balls'Range loop
            B(I) := Random_Colour.Random(Gen);
         end loop;
         exit when (not Is_Sorted(B));
         -- ... ensuring they are not in order
      end loop;
      return B;
   end Random_Balls;

   procedure Print(Message: String; B: Balls) is
   begin
      Ada.Text_IO.Put(Message);
      for I in B'Range loop
         Ada.Text_IO.Put(Colour_Type'Image(B(I)));
         if I < B'Last then
            Ada.Text_IO.Put(", ");
         else
            Ada.Text_IO.New_Line;
         end if;
      end loop;
   end Print;

   procedure Sort(Bls: in out Balls) is
      -- sort Bls in O(1) time

      Cnt: array(Colour_Type) of Natural := (Red => 0, White => 0, Blue => 0);
      Col: Colour_Type;

      procedure Move_Colour_To_Top(Bls: in out Balls;
                                   Colour: Colour_Type;
                                   Start: Positive;
                                   Count: Natural) is
         This: Positive := Start;
         Tmp: Colour_Type;
      begin
         for N in Start .. Start+Count-1 loop
            while Bls(This) /= Colour loop
               This := This + 1;
            end loop; -- This is the first index >= N with B(This) = Colour
            Tmp := Bls(N); Bls(N) := Bls(This); Bls(This) := Tmp; -- swap
            This := This + 1;
         end loop;
      end  Move_Colour_To_Top;

   begin
      for Ball in Balls'Range loop
         -- count how often each colour is found
         Col := Bls(Ball);
         Cnt(Col) := Cnt(Col) + 1;
      end loop;
      Move_Colour_To_Top(Bls, Red,   Start => 1,          Count => Cnt(Red));
      Move_Colour_To_Top(Bls, White, Start => 1+Cnt(Red), Count => Cnt(White));
      -- all the remaining balls are blue
   end Sort;

   A: Balls := Random_Balls;

begin
   Print("Original Order: ", A);

   pragma Assert(not Is_Sorted(A));   -- Check if A is unsorted

   Sort(A); -- A = ((Red**Cnt(Red)= & (White**Cnt(White)) & (Blue**Cnt(Blue)))

   pragma Assert(Is_Sorted(A));   -- Check if A is actually sorted

   Print("After Sorting:  ", A);
end Dutch_National_Flag;</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}

<pre>>./dutch_national_flag 5
Original Order: RED, RED, BLUE, RED, BLUE
After Sorting:  RED, RED, RED, BLUE, BLUE
>./dutch_national_flag 5
Original Order: BLUE, RED, RED, WHITE, RED
After Sorting:  RED, RED, RED, WHITE, BLUE
>./dutch_national_flag 7
Original Order: WHITE, WHITE, BLUE, WHITE, BLUE, BLUE, WHITE
After Sorting:  WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE, BLUE, BLUE</pre>

=={{header|ALGOL 68}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="algol68">BEGIN # Dutch national flag problem: sort a set of randomly arranged red, white and blue balls into order #
      # ball sets are represented by STRING items, red by "R", white by "W" and blue by "B" #
    # returns the balls sorted into red, white and blue order #
    PROC sort balls = ( STRING balls )STRING:
    BEGIN
        [ 1 : ( UPB balls + 1 ) - LWB balls ]CHAR result, white, blue;
        INT r pos := 0, w pos := 0, b pos := 0;
        # copy the red balls into the result and split the white and blue #
        # into separate lists #
        FOR pos FROM LWB balls TO UPB balls DO
            CHAR b = balls[ pos ];
            IF b = "R" THEN
                # red ball - add to the result #
                result[ r pos +:= 1 ] := b
            ELIF b = "W" THEN
                # white ball #
                white[ w pos  +:= 1 ] := b
            ELSE
                # must be blue #
                blue[ b pos   +:= 1 ] := b
            FI
        OD;
        # add the white balls to the list #
        IF w pos > 0 THEN
            # there were some white balls - add them to the result #
            result[ r pos + 1 : r pos + w pos ] := white[ 1 : w pos ];
            r pos +:= w pos
        FI;
        # add the blue balls to the list #
        IF b pos > 0 THEN
            # there were some blue balls - add them to the end of the result #
            result[ r pos + 1 : r pos + b pos ] := blue[ 1 : b pos ];
            r pos +:= b pos
        FI;
        result[ 1 : r pos ]
    END # sort balls # ;
    # returns TRUE if balls is sorted, FALSE otherwise #
    PROC sorted balls = ( STRING balls )BOOL:
    BEGIN
        BOOL result := TRUE;
        FOR i FROM LWB balls + 1 TO UPB balls
        WHILE result := (  CHAR prev = balls[ i - 1 ];
                           CHAR curr = balls[ i     ];
                           prev = curr
                        OR ( prev = "R" AND curr = "W" )
                        OR ( prev = "R" AND curr = "B" )
                        OR ( prev = "W" AND curr = "B" )
                        )
        DO SKIP OD;
        result
    END # sorted balls # ;
    # constructs an unsorted random string of n balls #
    PROC random balls = ( INT n )STRING:
    BEGIN
        STRING result := n * "?";
        WHILE FOR i TO n DO
                  result[ i ] := IF   INT r = ENTIER( next random * 3 ) + 1;
                                      r = 1
                                 THEN "R"
                                 ELIF r = 2
                                 THEN "W"
                                 ELSE "B"
                                 FI
              OD;
              sorted balls( result )
        DO SKIP OD;
        result
    END # random balls # ;
    # tests #
    FOR i FROM 11 BY 3 TO 17 DO
        STRING balls;
        balls := random balls( i );
        print( ( "before: ", balls, IF sorted balls( balls ) THEN " initially sorted??" ELSE "" FI, newline ) );
        balls := sort balls( balls );
        print( ( "after:  ", balls, IF sorted balls( balls ) THEN "" ELSE " NOT" FI, " sorted", newline ) )
    OD
END</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
before: BWWRWRBWBRR
after:  RRRRWWWWBBB sorted
before: BBRBWWRWBRRBBW
after:  RRRRWWWWBBBBBB sorted
before: WRRWRRRBBWBRRWBWB
after:  RRRRRRRWWWWWBBBBB sorted
</pre>

=={{header|AppleScript}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="applescript">use AppleScript version "2.3.1" -- OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or later.
use sorter : script ¬
    "Custom Iterative Ternary Merge Sort" --<www.macscripter.net/t/timsort-and-nigsort/71383/3>

on DutchNationalFlagProblem(numberOfBalls)
    script o
        property colours : {"red", "white", "blue"}
        property balls : {}
        
        -- Custom comparison handler for the sort.
        on isGreater(a, b)
            return ((a ≠ b) and ((a is "blue") or (b is "red")))
        end isGreater
    end script
    
    repeat numberOfBalls times
        set end of o's balls to some item of o's colours
    end repeat
    tell sorter to sort(o's balls, 1, numberOfBalls, {comparer:o})
    
    return o's balls
end DutchNationalFlagProblem

DutchNationalFlagProblem(100)</syntaxhighlight>

{{output}}
<pre>Log:
(*blue, blue, blue, white, blue, white, white, white, red, blue, red, red, white, white, blue, white, blue, white, red, blue, white, white, blue, white, red, blue, white, white, white, blue, blue, red, blue, red, red, blue, white, white, red, white, red, red, red, blue, red, blue, red, blue, red, white, blue, white, red, white, red, white, white, blue, red, blue, blue, red, white, blue, red, white, blue, white, red, blue, white, white, white, blue, red, white, white, white, white, blue, red, red, white, red, red, red, white, white, red, blue, white, red, red, red, red, red, white, red, red, white*)

Result:
{"red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "red", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "white", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue", "blue"}</pre>

In the unlikely event of this being something you'll want done often at very high speeds, Dijkstra's own algorithm for the task is somewhat faster:

<syntaxhighlight lang="applescript">on threeWayPartition(theList, order) -- Dijkstra's algorithm.
    script o
        property lst : theList
    end script
    
    set {v1, v2, v3} to order
    set {i, j, k} to {1, 1, (count o's lst)}
    repeat until (j > k)
        set this to o's lst's item j
        if (this = v3) then
            set o's lst's item j to o's lst's item k
            set o's lst's item k to this
            set k to k - 1
        else
            if (this = v1) then
                set o's lst's item j to o's lst's item i
                set o's lst's item i to this
                set i to i + 1
            end if
            set j to j + 1
        end if
    end repeat
    
    return -- Input list sorted in place.
end threeWayPartition

on DutchNationalFlagProblem(numberOfBalls)
    script o
        property balls : {}
    end script
    
    set colours to {"red", "white", "blue"}
    repeat numberOfBalls times
        set end of o's balls to some item of colours
    end repeat
    threeWayPartition(o's balls, colours)
    
    return o's balls
end DutchNationalFlagProblem

DutchNationalFlagProblem(100)</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Applesoft BASIC}}==
{{trans|ZX_Spectrum_Basic}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="applesoftbasic"> 100  READ C$(0),C$(1),C$(2)
 110  DATARED,WHITE,BLUE,0
 120  PRINT "RANDOM:
 130  FOR N = 0 TO 9
 140      LET B%(N) =  RND (1) * 3
 150      GOSUB 250
 160  NEXT N
 170  PRINT 
 180  READ S
 190  PRINT "SORTED:
 200  FOR I = 0 TO 2
 210      FOR N = 0 TO 9
 220          ON B%(N) = I GOSUB 250
 230  NEXT N,I
 240  END 
 250  PRINT  SPC( S)C$(B%(N));
 260  LET S = 1
 270  RETURN </syntaxhighlight>
=={{header|AutoHotkey}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="autohotkey">RandGen(MaxBalls){
Random,k,3,MaxBalls
Loop,% k{
	Random,k,1,3
	o.=k
}return o
}
While((!InStr(o,1)||!InStr(o,2)||!InStr(o,3))||!RegExReplace(o,"\b1+2+3+\b"))
	o:=RandGen(3)
Loop,% StrLen(o)
	F.=SubStr(o,A_Index,1) ","
F:=RTrim(F,",")
Sort,F,N D`,
MsgBox,% F:=RegExReplace(RegExReplace(RegExReplace(F,"(1)","Red"),"(2)","White"),"(3)","Blue")</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|AutoIt}}==
Given each color a value in descending order ( Red = 1, White = 2 And Blue = 3)
<syntaxhighlight lang="autoit">
#include <Array.au3>
Dutch_Flag(50)
Func Dutch_Flag($arrayitems)
	Local $avArray[$arrayitems]
	For $i = 0 To UBound($avArray) - 1
		$avArray[$i] = Random(1, 3, 1)
	Next
	Local $low = 2, $high = 3, $i = 0
	Local $arraypos = -1
	Local $p = UBound($avArray) - 1
	While $i < $p
			if $avArray[$i] < $low Then
				$arraypos += 1
				_ArraySwap($avArray[$i], $avArray[$arraypos])
				$i += 1
			ElseIf $avArray[$i] >= $high Then
				_ArraySwap($avArray[$i], $avArray[$p])
				$p -= 1
			Else
				$i += 1
			EndIf
		WEnd
		_ArrayDisplay($avArray)
EndFunc   ;==>Dutch_Flag
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|AWK}}==
{{works with|gawk}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="awk">
BEGIN {
    weight[1] = "red"; weight[2] = "white"; weight[3] = "blue";
    # ballnr must be >= 3. Using very high numbers here may make your computer
    # run out of RAM. (10 millions balls ~= 2.5GiB RAM on x86_64)
    ballnr = 10

    srand()
    # Generating a random pool of balls. This python-like loop is actually
    # a prettyfied one-liner
    do 
        for (i = 1; i <= ballnr; i++)  
            do  
                balls[i] = int(3 * rand() + 1)
            # These conditions ensure the 3 first balls contains 
            # a white, blue and red ball. Removing 'i < 4' would
            # hit performance a lot.
            while ( (i < 4 && i > 1 && balls[i] == balls[i - 1]) || 
                    (i < 4 && i > 2 && balls[i] == balls[i - 2]) ) 
    while (is_dnf(balls, ballnr))
    
    printf("BEFORE: ")
    print_balls(balls, ballnr, weight)
    
    # Using gawk default quicksort. Using variants of PROCINFO["sorted_in"]
    # wasn't faster than a simple call to asort().
    asort(balls)

    printf("\n\nAFTER : ")
    print_balls(balls, ballnr, weight)
    
    sorting = is_dnf(balls, ballnr) ? "valid" : "invalid"
    print("\n\nSorting is " sorting ".")
}

function print_balls(balls, ballnr, weight      ,i) {
    for (i = 1; i <= ballnr; i++) 
        printf("%-7s", weight[balls[i]])
}

function is_dnf(balls, ballnr) {
    # Checking if the balls are sorted in the Dutch national flag order,
    # using a simple scan with weight comparison
    for (i = 2; i <= ballnr; i++)
        if (balls[i - 1] > balls[i])
            return 0
    return 1
}
</syntaxhighlight>

Output: 

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
BEFORE: blue   red    white  red    white  blue   red    white  blue   white  

AFTER : red    red    red    white  white  white  white  blue   blue   blue   

Sorting is valid.
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|BASIC}}==
==={{header|BaCon}}===
<syntaxhighlight lang="qbasic">DECLARE color$[] = { "red", "white", "blue" }

DOTIMES 16
    ball$ = APPEND$(ball$, 0, color$[RANDOM(3)] )
DONE

PRINT "Unsorted: ", ball$

PRINT "  Sorted: ", REPLACE$(SORT$(REPLACE$(ball$, "blue", "z")), "z", "blue")</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Unsorted: red white blue blue red white white white blue white blue red blue red white red
  Sorted: red red red red red white white white white white white blue blue blue blue blue
</pre>

==={{header|BASIC256}}===
<syntaxhighlight lang="basic256">arraybase 1
dim flag = {"Red","White","Blue"}
dim balls(9)

print "Random: |";
for i = 1 to 9
    kolor = (rand * 3) + 1
    balls[i] = flag[kolor]
    print  balls[i]; " |";
next i
print

print "Sorted: |";
for i = 1 to 3
    kolor = flag[i]
    for j = 1 to 9
        if balls[j] = kolor then print balls[j]; " |";
    next j
next i</syntaxhighlight>

==={{header|BBC BASIC}}===
{{works with|BBC BASIC for Windows}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="bbcbasic">      INSTALL @lib$+"SORTLIB"
      Sort% = FN_sortinit(0,0)
      
      nBalls% = 12
      DIM Balls$(nBalls%-1), Weight%(nBalls%-1), DutchFlag$(2)
      DutchFlag$() = "Red ", "White ", "Blue "
      
      REM. Generate random list of balls, ensuring not sorted:
      REPEAT
        prev% = 0 : sorted% = TRUE
        FOR ball% = 0 TO nBalls%-1
          index% = RND(3) - 1
          Balls$(ball%) = DutchFlag$(index%)
          IF index% < prev% THEN sorted% = FALSE
          prev% = index%
        NEXT
      UNTIL NOT sorted%
      PRINT "Random list: " SUM(Balls$())
      
      REM. Assign Dutch Flag weightings to ball colours:
      DutchFlag$ = SUM(DutchFlag$())
      FOR ball% = 0 TO nBalls%-1
        Weight%(ball%) = INSTR(DutchFlag$, Balls$(ball%))
      NEXT
      
      REM. Sort into Dutch Flag colour sequence:
      C% = nBalls%
      CALL Sort%, Weight%(0), Balls$(0)
      PRINT "Sorted list: " SUM(Balls$())
      
      REM Final check:
      prev% = 0 : sorted% = TRUE
      FOR ball% = 0 TO nBalls%-1
        weight% = INSTR(DutchFlag$, Balls$(ball%))
        IF weight% < prev% THEN sorted% = FALSE
        prev% = weight%
      NEXT
      IF NOT sorted% PRINT "Error: Balls are not in correct order!"</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Random list: Red White Red Blue White Red White Blue Red Red Blue Red
Sorted list: Red Red Red Red Red Red White White White Blue Blue Blue
</pre>

=={{header|C}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="c">#include <stdio.h> //printf()
#include <stdlib.h> //srand(), rand(), RAND_MAX, qsort()
#include <stdbool.h> //true, false
#include <time.h> //time()

#define NUMBALLS 5 //NUMBALLS>1

int compar(const void *a, const void *b){
	char c1=*(const char*)a, c2=*(const char*)b; //first cast void* to char*, then dereference
	return c1-c2;
}

_Bool issorted(char *balls){
	int i,state;
	state=0;
	for(i=0;i<NUMBALLS;i++){
		if(balls[i]<state)return false;
		if(balls[i]>state)state=balls[i];
	}
	return true;
}

void printout(char *balls){
	int i;
	char str[NUMBALLS+1];
	for(i=0;i<NUMBALLS;i++)str[i]=balls[i]==0?'r':balls[i]==1?'w':'b';
	printf("%s\n",str);
}

int main(void) {
	char balls[NUMBALLS]; //0=r, 1=w, 2=b
	int i;
	srand(time(NULL)); //not a good seed but good enough for the example
	rand(); //rand() always starts with the same values for certain seeds, making
	        //  testing pretty irritating
	// Generate balls
	for(i=0;i<NUMBALLS;i++)balls[i]=(double)rand()/RAND_MAX*3;
	while(issorted(balls)){ //enforce that we start with non-sorted balls
		printf("Accidentally still sorted: ");
		printout(balls);
		for(i=0;i<NUMBALLS;i++)balls[i]=(double)rand()/RAND_MAX*3;
	}
	printf("Non-sorted: ");
	printout(balls);
	qsort(balls,NUMBALLS,sizeof(char),compar); //sort them using quicksort (stdlib)
	if(issorted(balls)){ //unnecessary check but task enforces it
		printf("Sorted: ");
		printout(balls);
	} else {
		printf("Sort failed: ");
		printout(balls);
	}
	return 0;
}</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Accidentally still sorted:rrrww
Non-sorted: rbwww
Sorted: rwwwb</pre>

=={{header|C++}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">#include <algorithm>
#include <iostream>

// Dutch national flag problem
template <typename BidIt, typename T>
void dnf_partition(BidIt first, BidIt last, const T& low, const T& high)
{
    for (BidIt next = first; next != last; ) {
        if (*next < low) {
            std::iter_swap(first++, next++);
        } else if (!(*next < high)) {
            std::iter_swap(next, --last);
        } else {
            ++next;
        }
    }
}

enum Colors { RED, WHITE, BLUE };

void print(const Colors *balls, size_t size)
{
    static const char *label[] = { "red", "white", "blue" };

    std::cout << "Balls:";
    for (size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
        std::cout << ' ' << label[balls[i]];
    }
    std::cout << "\nSorted: " << std::boolalpha << std::is_sorted(balls, balls + size) << '\n';
}

int main()
{
    Colors balls[] = { RED, WHITE, BLUE, RED, WHITE, BLUE, RED, WHITE, BLUE };

    std::random_shuffle(balls, balls + 9);
    print(balls, 9);

    dnf_partition(balls, balls + 9, WHITE, BLUE);
    print(balls, 9);
}</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Balls: blue white red blue red blue white red white
Sorted: false
Balls: red red red white white white blue blue blue
Sorted: true
</pre>

=={{header|C_sharp|C#}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="csharp">using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace RosettaCode
{
    class Program
    {
        static void QuickSort(IComparable[] elements, int left, int right)
        {
            int i = left, j = right;
            IComparable pivot = elements[left + (right - left) / 2];

            while (i <= j)
            {
                while (elements[i].CompareTo(pivot) < 0) i++;
                while (elements[j].CompareTo(pivot) > 0) j--;

                if (i <= j)
                {
                    // Swap
                    IComparable tmp = elements[i];
                    elements[i] = elements[j];
                    elements[j] = tmp;
                    i++;
                    j--;
                }
            }

            // Recursive calls
            if (left < j) QuickSort(elements, left, j);
            if (i < right) QuickSort(elements, i, right);
        }
        const int NUMBALLS = 5;
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            Func<string[], bool> IsSorted = (ballList) =>
                {
                    int state = 0;
                    for (int i = 0; i < NUMBALLS; i++)
                    {
                        if (int.Parse(ballList[i]) < state)
                            return false;
                        if (int.Parse(ballList[i]) > state)
                            state = int.Parse(ballList[i]);
                    }
                    return true;
                };
            Func<string[], string> PrintOut = (ballList2) =>
                {
                    StringBuilder str = new StringBuilder();
                    for (int i = 0; i < NUMBALLS; i++)
                        str.Append(int.Parse(ballList2[i]) == 0 ? "r" : int.Parse(ballList2[i]) == 1 ? "w" : "b");
                    return str.ToString();
                };
            bool continueLoop = true;
            string[] balls = new string[NUMBALLS]; // 0 = r, 1 = w, 2 = b
            Random numberGenerator = new Random();
            do // Enforce that we start with non-sorted balls
            {
                // Generate balls
                for (int i = 0; i < NUMBALLS; i++)
                    balls[i] = numberGenerator.Next(3).ToString();

                continueLoop = IsSorted(balls);
                if (continueLoop)
                    Console.WriteLine("Accidentally still sorted: {0}", PrintOut(balls));
            } while (continueLoop);
            Console.WriteLine("Non-sorted: {0}", PrintOut(balls));
            QuickSort(balls, 0, NUMBALLS - 1); // Sort them using quicksort
            Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1}", IsSorted(balls) ? "Sorted" : "Sort failed", PrintOut(balls));
        }
    }
}
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Ceylon}}==
Be sure to add ceylon.random in your module.ceylon file.
<syntaxhighlight lang="ceylon">import ceylon.random {

	DefaultRandom
}

abstract class Colour(name, ordinal) of red | white | blue  satisfies Comparable<Colour> {
	shared String name;
	shared Integer ordinal;
	string => name;
	compare(Colour other) => this.ordinal <=> other.ordinal;
}

object red extends Colour("red", 0) {}
object white extends Colour("white", 1) {}
object blue extends Colour("blue", 2) {}

Colour[] allColours = `Colour`.caseValues;

shared void run() {
	
	function ordered({Colour*} colours) => 
			colours.paired.every(([c1, c2]) => c1 <= c2);
	
	value random = DefaultRandom();
	
	function randomBalls(Integer length = 15) {
		while (true) {
			value balls = random.elements(allColours).take(length);
			if (!ordered(balls)) {
				return balls.sequence();
			}
		}
	}
	
	function dutchSort({Colour*} balls, Colour mid = white) {
		value array = Array { *balls };
		if (array.empty) {
			return [];
		}
		variable value i = 0;
		variable value j = 0;
		variable value n = array.size - 1;
		while (j <= n) {
			assert (exists ball = array[j]);
			if (ball < mid) {
				array.swap(i, j);
				i ++;
				j ++;
			}
			else if (ball > mid) {
				array.swap(n, j);
				n --;
			}
			else {
				j ++;
			}
		}
		return array;
	}
	
	function idiomaticSort({Colour*} balls) =>
			balls.sort(increasing);
	
    value initialBalls = randomBalls();
	
    "the initial balls are not randomized"
    assert (!ordered(initialBalls));

    print(initialBalls);
    
    value sortedBalls1 = idiomaticSort(initialBalls);
    value sortedBalls2 = dutchSort(initialBalls);
    
    "the idiomatic sort didn't work"
    assert (ordered(sortedBalls1));
    
    "the dutch sort didn't work"
    assert (ordered(sortedBalls2));
    
    print(sortedBalls1);
    print(sortedBalls2);
}</syntaxhighlight>


=={{header|Clojure}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="clojure">(defn dutch-flag-order [color]
  (get {:red 1 :white 2 :blue 3} color))

(defn sort-in-dutch-flag-order [balls]
  (sort-by dutch-flag-order balls))

;; Get a collection of 'n' balls of Dutch-flag colors
(defn random-balls [num-balls]
  (repeatedly num-balls
              #(rand-nth [:red :white :blue])))

;; Get random set of balls and insure they're not accidentally sorted
(defn starting-balls [num-balls]
  (let [balls (random-balls num-balls)
        in-dutch-flag-order? (= balls
                                (sort-in-dutch-flag-order balls))]
    (if in-dutch-flag-order?
      (recur num-balls)
      balls)))</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
(def balls (starting-balls 20))
balls                             ; (:blue :red :red :blue :white :blue :white :blue :white :red
                                  ;  :blue :red :white :white :white :red :blue :white :blue :blue)

(sort-in-dutch-flag-order balls)  ; (:red :red :red :red :red :white :white :white :white :white
                                  ;  :white :white :blue :blue :blue :blue :blue :blue :blue :blue)
</pre>

=={{header|Common Lisp}}==
{{trans|Clojure}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="lisp">
(defun dutch-flag-order (color)
  (case color (:red 1) (:white 2) (:blue 3)))

(defun sort-in-dutch-flag-order (balls)
  (sort (copy-list balls) #'< :key #'dutch-flag-order))

(defun make-random-balls (count)
  (loop :repeat count
        :collect (nth (random 3) '(:red :white :blue))))

(defun make-balls (count)
  (loop :for balls = (make-random-balls count)
        :while (equal balls (sort-in-dutch-flag-order balls))
        :finally (return balls)))

;; Alternative version showcasing iterate's finding clause
(defun make-balls2 (count)
  (iter (for balls = (make-random-balls count))
    (finding balls such-that (not (equal balls (sort-in-dutch-flag-order balls))))))
</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
CL-USER> (defvar *balls* (make-balls 20))
*BALLS*
CL-USER> *balls*
(:WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :RED :BLUE :RED :RED :WHITE :WHITE :RED :BLUE :RED
 :RED :BLUE :WHITE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE)
CL-USER> (sort-in-dutch-flag-order *balls*)
(:RED :RED :RED :RED :RED :RED :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE :WHITE
 :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE :BLUE)
</pre>

=={{header|D}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="d">import std.stdio, std.random, std.algorithm, std.traits, std.array;

enum DutchColors { red, white, blue }

void dutchNationalFlagSort(DutchColors[] items) pure nothrow @nogc {
    int lo, mid, hi = items.length - 1;

    while (mid <= hi)
        final switch (items[mid]) {
            case DutchColors.red:
                swap(items[lo++], items[mid++]);
                break;
            case DutchColors.white:
                mid++;
                break;
            case DutchColors.blue:
                swap(items[mid], items[hi--]);
                break;
        }
}

void main() {
    DutchColors[12] balls;
    foreach (ref ball; balls)
        ball = uniform!DutchColors;

    writeln("Original Ball order:\n", balls);
    balls.dutchNationalFlagSort;
    writeln("\nSorted Ball Order:\n", balls);
    assert(balls[].isSorted, "Balls not sorted.");
}</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Original Ball order:
[red, white, white, blue, white, red, red, red, red, red, blue, red]

Sorted Ball Order:
[red, red, red, red, red, red, red, white, white, white, blue, blue]</pre>

===Bidirectional Range Version===
<syntaxhighlight lang="d">import std.stdio, std.random, std.algorithm, std.range,
       std.array, std.traits;

/*
This implementation has less requirements, it works with just
a Bidirectional Range instead of a Random Access Range.

(Comments modified from "Notes on Programming" by Alexander
 Stepanov.)

  Let us assume that somehow we managed to solve the problem up
  to some middle point s:

  0000001111?????22222222
        ^   ^   ^
        f   s   l         (first, second, last)

  If s points to an item with value 0 (red) we swap it with an
  element pointed at by f and advance both f and s.
  If s refers to an item 1 (white) we just advance s.
  If s refers to an item 2 (blue) we swap elements
  pointed by l and s and we decrement l.

In D/Phobos we use Ranges, that are like pairs of iterators.
So 'secondLast' represents the s and l iterators, and the 'first'
range contains f plus an unused end.

secondLast represents the inclusive range of items not yet seen.
When it's empty, the algorithm has finished.

Loop variant: in each iteration of the for loop the length of
secondLast decreases by 1. So the algorithm terminates.
*/
void dutchNationalFlagSort(Range, T)(Range secondLast,
                                     in T lowVal, in T highVal)
pure nothrow if (isBidirectionalRange!Range &&
                 hasSwappableElements!Range &&
                 is(ElementType!Range == T)) {
    for (auto first = secondLast; !secondLast.empty; )
        if (secondLast.front == lowVal) {
            swap(first.front, secondLast.front);
            first.popFront();
            secondLast.popFront();
        } else if (secondLast.front == highVal) {
            swap(secondLast.front, secondLast.back);
            secondLast.popBack();
        } else
            secondLast.popFront();
}

void main() {
    enum DutchColors { red, white, blue }
    DutchColors[12] balls;
    foreach (ref ball; balls)
        ball = [EnumMembers!DutchColors][uniform(0, $)];

    writeln("Original Ball order:\n", balls);
    balls[].dutchNationalFlagSort(DutchColors.red,
                                  DutchColors.blue);
    writeln("\nSorted Ball Order:\n", balls);
    assert(balls[].isSorted(), "Balls not sorted");

    // More tests:
    foreach (i; 0 .. 100_000) {
        int n = uniform(0, balls.length);
        foreach (ref ball; balls[0 .. n])
            ball = [EnumMembers!DutchColors][uniform(0, $)];
        balls[0 .. n].dutchNationalFlagSort(DutchColors.red,
                                            DutchColors.blue);
        assert(balls[0 .. n].isSorted());
    }
}</syntaxhighlight>
The output is the same.

===More Verified Version===
This version uses more contract programming and asserts to verify the code correctness.
With hints from: toccata.lri.fr/gallery/flag.en.html
<syntaxhighlight lang="d">import std.stdio, std.random, std.algorithm, std.traits, std.range;

enum Color : ubyte { blue, white, red }

immutable isMonochrome = (in Color[] a, in size_t i, in size_t j, in Color c)
    pure nothrow @safe @nogc => iota(i, j).all!(k => a[k] == c);

bool isPermutation(in Color[] a1, in Color[] a2) pure nothrow @safe @nogc {
    size_t[EnumMembers!Color.length] counts1, counts2;
    foreach (immutable x; a1)
        counts1[x]++;
    foreach (immutable x; a2)
        counts2[x]++;
    return counts1 == counts2;
}


void dutchNationalFlagSort(Color[] a) pure nothrow @safe @nogc
    // This function is not @nogc in -debug builds.
    /*
    Scan of the array 'a' from left to right using 'i' and we
    maintain this invariant, using indices 'b' and 'r':

    0         b          i           r
    +---------+----------+-----------+-------+
    |  blue   |  white   |     ?     |  red  |
    +---------+----------+-----------+-------+
    */
out {
    // Find b and r.
    immutable bRaw = a.countUntil!q{a != b}(Color.blue);
    immutable size_t b = (bRaw == -1) ? a.length : bRaw;
    immutable rRaw = a.retro.countUntil!q{a != b}(Color.red);
    immutable size_t r = (rRaw == -1) ? 0 : (a.length - rRaw);

    assert(isMonochrome(a, 0, b, Color.blue));
    assert(isMonochrome(a, b, r, Color.white));
    assert(isMonochrome(a, r, a.length, Color.red));
    // debug assert(isPermutation(a, a.old));
} body {
    size_t b = 0, i = 0, r = a.length;
    debug {
        /*ghost*/ immutable aInit = a.idup; // For loop invariant.
        /*ghost*/ size_t riPred = r - i;    // For loop variant.
    }

    while (i < r) {
        /*invariant*/ assert(0 <= b && b <= i && i <= r && r <= a.length);
        /*invariant*/ assert(isMonochrome(a, 0, b, Color.blue));
        /*invariant*/ assert(isMonochrome(a, b, i, Color.white));
        /*invariant*/ assert(isMonochrome(a, r, a.length, Color.red));
        /*invariant*/ debug assert(isPermutation(a, aInit));

        final switch (a[i]) with (Color) {
            case blue:
                a[b].swap(a[i]);
                b++;
                i++;
                break;
            case white:
                i++;
                break;
            case red:
                r--;
                a[r].swap(a[i]);
                break;
        }

        debug {
            /*variant*/ assert((r - i) < riPred);
            riPred = r - i;
        }
    }
}

void main() {
    Color[12] balls;

    // Test special cases.
    foreach (immutable color; [EnumMembers!Color]) {
        balls[] = color;
        balls.dutchNationalFlagSort;
        assert(balls[].isSorted, "Balls not sorted.");
    }

    foreach (ref b; balls)
        b = uniform!Color;

    writeln("Original Ball order:\n", balls);
    balls.dutchNationalFlagSort;
    writeln("\nSorted Ball Order:\n", balls);
    assert(balls[].isSorted, "Balls not sorted.");
}</syntaxhighlight>
The output is the same.

=={{header|Delphi}}==
{{works with|Delphi|6.0}}
{{libheader|Classes,SysUtils,StdCtrls}}
Encodes the colors to strings of "1" "2" and "3" to allow them to be sorted. Then it sses Delphi TStringList to sort the colors. 

<syntaxhighlight lang="Delphi">

const TestOrder: array [0..11] of string =
   ('Blue','Blue','White','Blue','White','Blue',
    'Red','White','White','Blue','White','Red');


procedure DoDutchFlag(Memo: TMemo; Order: array of string);
{Solve dutch flag color order using TStringList component}
{Encode colors "Red", "White" and "Blue" to "1", "2", and "3" }
{This allows them to be sorted in the TString List}
var I: integer;
var SL: TStringList;
var S2: string;

	function DecodeList(SL: TStringList): string;
	{Convert encoded colors 1, 2 and 3 to Red, White and Blue}
	var I: integer;
	begin
	Result:='';
	for I:=0 to SL.Count-1 do
		begin
		if I>0 then Result:=Result+',';
		if SL[I]='1' then Result:=Result+'Red'
		else if SL[I]='2' then Result:=Result+'White'
		else Result:=Result+'Blue'
		end;
	end;

begin
SL:=TStringList.Create;
try
{Encode colors from array of strings}
for I:=0 to High(TestOrder) do
	begin
	if Order[I]='Red' then SL.Add('1')
	else if Order[I]='White' then SL.Add('2')
	else SL.Add('3');
	end;
Memo.Lines.Add('Original Order:');
Memo.Lines.Add('['+DecodeList(SL)+']');
SL.Sort;
Memo.Lines.Add('Original Order:');
Memo.Lines.Add('['+DecodeList(SL)+']');
finally SL.Free; end;
end;


procedure ShowDutchFlag(Memo: TMemo);
begin
DoDutchFlag(Memo,TestOrder);
end;

</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Original Order:
[Blue,Blue,White,Blue,White,Blue,Red,White,White,Blue,White,Red]
Original Order:
[Red,Red,White,White,White,White,White,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue]
</pre>


=={{header|Elixir}}==
{{trans|Erlang}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="elixir">defmodule Dutch_national_flag do
  defp ball(:red),   do: 1
  defp ball(:white), do: 2
  defp ball(:blue),  do: 3
  
  defp random_ball, do: Enum.random([:red, :white, :blue])
  
  defp random_ball(n), do: (for _ <- 1..n, do: random_ball())
  
  defp is_dutch([]), do: true
  defp is_dutch([_]), do: true
  defp is_dutch([b,h|l]), do: ball(b) < ball(h) and is_dutch([h|l])
  defp is_dutch(_), do: false
  
  def  dutch(list), do: dutch([], [], [], list)
  
  defp dutch(r, w, b, []),              do: r ++ w ++ b
  defp dutch(r, w, b, [:red   | list]), do: dutch([:red | r],  w,  b, list)
  defp dutch(r, w, b, [:white | list]), do: dutch(r, [:white | w], b, list)
  defp dutch(r, w, b, [:blue  | list]), do: dutch(r, w,  [:blue | b], list)
  
  def problem(n \\ 10) do
    list = random_ball(n)
    if is_dutch(list) do
      IO.puts "The random sequence #{inspect list} is already in the order of the Dutch flag!"
    else
      IO.puts "The starting random sequence is #{inspect list};"
      IO.puts "The ordered sequence is #{inspect dutch(list)}."
    end
  end
end

Dutch_national_flag.problem</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
The starting random sequence is [:blue, :white, :blue, :red, :red, :white, :blue
, :white, :white, :blue];
The ordered sequence is [:red, :red, :white, :white, :white, :white, :blue, :blu
e, :blue, :blue].
</pre>

=={{header|Erlang}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="erlang">-module(dutch).
-export([random_balls/1, is_dutch/1, dutch/1]).

ball(red)   -> 1;
ball(white) -> 2;
ball(blue)  -> 3.

random_ball() -> lists:nth(random:uniform(3), [red, white, blue]).

random_balls(N)   -> random_balls(N,[]).
random_balls(0,L) -> L;
random_balls(N,L) when N > 0 ->
  B = random_ball(),
  random_balls(N-1, [B|L]).

is_dutch([])        -> true;
is_dutch([_])       -> true;
is_dutch([B|[H|L]]) -> (ball(B) < ball(H)) and is_dutch([H|L]);
is_dutch(_)         -> false.

dutch(L) -> dutch([],[],[],L).

dutch(R, W, B, [])          -> R ++ W ++ B;
dutch(R, W, B, [red   | L]) -> dutch([red|R],  W,  B,  L);
dutch(R, W, B, [white | L]) -> dutch(R, [white|W], B,  L);
dutch(R, W, B, [blue  | L]) -> dutch(R, W,   [blue|B], L).</syntaxhighlight>

Sample usage:
<syntaxhighlight lang="erlang">main(_) ->
   L = random_balls(10),
   case is_dutch(L) of
     true  -> io:format("The random sequence ~p is already in the order of the Dutch flag!~n", [L]);
     false -> io:format("The starting random sequence is ~p;~nThe ordered sequence is ~p.~n", [L, dutch(L)])
   end.</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>The starting random sequence is [white,white,blue,blue,white,red,white,blue,
                                 blue,white];
The ordered sequence is [red,white,white,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue,
                         blue].</pre>

=={{header|F_Sharp|F#}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="fsharp">(* Since the task description here does not impose Dijsktra's original restrictions
    * Changing the order is only allowed by swapping 2 elements
    * Every element must only be inspected once
   we have several options ...
   One way -- especially when we work with immutable data structures --
   is to scan the unordered list, collect the different
   colours on our way and append the 3 sub-lists in the correct order.
*)
let rnd = System.Random()

type color = | Red | White | Blue

let isDutch s =
    Seq.forall2 (fun last this ->
        match (last, this) with
        | (Red, Red) | (Red, White) | (White, White) | (White, Blue) | (Blue, Blue) -> true | _ -> false
    ) s (Seq.skip 1 s)

[<EntryPoint>]
let main argv =
    let n = 10
    let rec getBallsToSort n s =
        let sn = Seq.take n s
        if (isDutch sn) then (getBallsToSort n (Seq.skip 1 s)) else sn
    let balls = getBallsToSort n (Seq.initInfinite (fun _ -> match (rnd.Next(3)) with | 0 -> Red | 1 -> White | _ -> Blue))
    printfn "Sort the sequence of %i balls: %A" n (Seq.toList balls)
    let (rs,ws,bs) =
        balls
        |> Seq.fold (fun (rs,ws,bs) b ->
            match b with | Red -> (b::rs,ws,bs) | White -> (rs,b::ws,bs) | Blue -> (rs,ws,b::bs))
            ([],[],[])
    let sorted = rs @ ws @ bs
    printfn "The sequence %A is sorted: %b" sorted (isDutch sorted)
    0</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Sort the sequence of 10 balls: [Red; White; Red; Blue; White; White; Blue; Blue; White; White]
The sequence [Red; Red; White; White; White; White; White; Blue; Blue; Blue] is sorted: true</pre>

=={{header|Factor}}==
{{works with|Factor|0.99 2020-01-23}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="factor">USING: combinators grouping kernel math prettyprint random
sequences ;

: sorted? ( seq -- ? ) [ <= ] monotonic? ;

: random-non-sorted-integers ( length n -- seq )
    2dup random-integers
    [ dup sorted? ] [ drop 2dup random-integers ] while 2nip ;

: dnf-sort! ( seq -- seq' )
    [ 0 0 ] dip [ length 1 - ] [ ] bi
    [ 2over <= ] [
        pick over nth {
            { 0 [ reach reach pick exchange [ [ 1 + ] bi@ ] 2dip ] }
            { 1 [ [ 1 + ] 2dip ] }
            [ drop 3dup exchange [ 1 - ] dip ]
        } case
    ] while 3nip ;

10 3 random-non-sorted-integers dup . dnf-sort! .</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
{ 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 }
{ 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 }
</pre>

=={{header|Forth}}==
This demo is by no means exemplary however there was no other Forth entry.  This code runs on the infamous TI-99, one of the slowest computers ever.  This demo uses Dijkstra's three colour algorithm to sort four different inputs. The flag is sorted on the screen so you can see it happen. The input data patterns are: random, checker-board, Russian flag and French (imperfect) flag.
Using three variables for the screen position pointers (vs stack juggling) makes the Dijkstra algorithm translate nicely into Forth.

A video of the results can be seen here: 

https://github.com/bfox9900/CAMEL99-V2/blob/master/Video/DIJKSTRAFLAG%20.mp4

<syntaxhighlight lang="text">\ Dutch flag DEMO for CAMEL99 Forth
\ *SORTS IN PLACE FROM Video MEMORY*

 INCLUDE DSK1.GRAFIX.F
 INCLUDE DSK1.RANDOM.F
 INCLUDE DSK1.CASE.F

\ TMS9918 Video chip Specific code
HEX
FFFF FFFF FFFF FFFF PATTERN: SQUARE

\ define colors and characters
DECIMAL
24 32 *  CONSTANT SIZE     \ flag will fill GRAPHICS screen
SIZE 3 / CONSTANT #256     \ 256 chars per segment of flag
1        CONSTANT REDSQR   \ red character
9        CONSTANT WHTSQR   \ white character
19       CONSTANT BLUSQR   \ blue character

\ color constants
1        CONSTANT TRANS
7        CONSTANT RED
5        CONSTANT BLU
16       CONSTANT WHT

SQUARE REDSQR CHARDEF
SQUARE BLUSQR CHARDEF
SQUARE WHTSQR CHARDEF

\ charset  FG    BG
  0        RED TRANS COLOR
  1        WHT TRANS COLOR
  2        BLU TRANS COLOR

\ screen fillers
: RNDI    ( -- n ) SIZE 1+ RND ; \ return a random VDP screen address

: NOTRED    (  -- n ) \ return rnd index that is not RED
           BEGIN  
              RNDI DUP VC@ REDSQR = 
           WHILE DROP  
           REPEAT ;

: NOTREDWHT    ( -- n ) \ return rnd index that is not RED or WHITE
           BEGIN  RNDI DUP
              VC@  DUP REDSQR =  
              SWAP WHTSQR = OR
           WHILE
              DROP
           REPEAT ;

: RNDRED  (  -- ) \ Random RED on VDP screen
          #256 0 DO   REDSQR NOTRED VC!   LOOP ;

: RNDWHT (  -- ) \ place white where there is no red or white
          #256 0 DO   WHTSQR NOTREDWHT VC!   LOOP ;

: BLUSCREEN ( -- )  
           0 768 BLUSQR VFILL ;

\ load the screen with random red,white&blue squares
: RNDSCREEN ( -- )
            BLUSCREEN  RNDRED  RNDWHT ;

: CHECKERED  ( -- ) \ red,wht,blue checker board
         SIZE 0
         DO
            BLUSQR I VC!
            WHTSQR I 1+ VC!
            REDSQR I 2+ VC!
         3 +LOOP ;

: RUSSIAN  \ Russian flag
            0  0 WHTSQR 256 HCHAR
            0  8 BLUSQR 256 HCHAR
            0 16 REDSQR 256 HCHAR ;

: FRENCH  \ kind of a French flag
           0  0 BLUSQR 256 VCHAR
          10 16 WHTSQR 256 VCHAR
          21  8 REDSQR 256 VCHAR ;

\ =======================================================
\ Algorithm Dijkstra(A)  \ A is an array of three colors
\ begin
\   r <- 1; 
\   b <- n; 
\   w <- n;
\ while (w>=r)
\       check the color of A[w]
\       case 1: red
\               swap(A[r],A [w]);
\                r<-r+1;
\       case 2: white
\               w<-w-1
\       case 3: blue
\               swap(A[w],A[b]);
\               w<-w-1;
\               b<-b-1;
\ end

\ ======================================================
\ Dijkstra three color Algorithm in Forth

\ screen address pointers
VARIABLE R
VARIABLE B
VARIABLE W

: XCHG  ( vadr1 vadr2 -- ) \ Exchange chars in Video RAM
       OVER VC@ OVER VC@       ( -- addr1 addr2 char1 char2)
       SWAP ROT VC! SWAP VC! ; \ exchange chars in Video RAM

: DIJKSTRA ( -- )
           0 R !
           SIZE 1- DUP  B !  W !
           BEGIN
               W @  R @  1- >
           WHILE
               W @ VC@  ( fetch Video char at pointer W)
               CASE
                 REDSQR OF  R @ W @  XCHG
                            1 R +!           ENDOF

                 WHTSQR OF -1 W +!           ENDOF

                 BLUSQR OF  W @ B @  XCHG
                           -1 W +!
                           -1 B +!           ENDOF
               ENDCASE
           REPEAT ;

: WAIT ( -- )  11 11 AT-XY ." Finished!" 1500 MS ;

: RUN  ( -- ) 
         PAGE
         CR ." Dijkstra Dutch flag Demo"  CR
         CR ." Sorted in-place in Video RAM" CR
         CR
         CR ." Using the 3 colour algorithm" CR
         CR ." Press any key to begin" KEY DROP
         RNDSCREEN  DIJKSTRA WAIT
         CHECKERED  DIJKSTRA WAIT
         RUSSIAN    DIJKSTRA WAIT
         FRENCH     DIJKSTRA WAIT
         0 23 AT-XY
         CR ." Completed"
;
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Fortran}}==
Please find the example run along with compilation instructions on a GNU/linux platform in the comments at the beginning of the FORTRAN 2008 program source.  The Netherlands program, using equal numbers of colors, solved the problem at three sample sizes.  Swaps number 2/3 the total of samples, convincingly demonstrating the O(n) time behavior that's directly provable by inspection.  The color strings are chosen for ASCII sort.  Feature not used.

Abhor code duplication.  I've repeated code anyway to demonstrate FORTRAN pointers, which behave like an alias.  A subroutine with traditional arguments including the number of valid elements of the array is appropriate.  I'd use one long array instead of 3 arrays and the size intrinsic.
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
!-*- mode: compilation; default-directory: "/tmp/" -*-
!Compilation started at Mon Jun  3 11:18:24
!
!a=./f && make FFLAGS='-O0 -g' $a && OMP_NUM_THREADS=2 $a < unixdict.txt
!gfortran -std=f2008 -O0 -g -Wall -fopenmp -ffree-form -fall-intrinsics -fimplicit-none f.f08 -o f
! Original and flag sequences
! WHITE RED   blue  blue  RED   WHITE WHITE WHITE blue  RED   RED   blue  
! RED   RED   RED   RED   WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE blue  blue  blue  blue  
!          12 items,           8  swaps.
!         999 items,         666  swaps.
!        9999 items,        6666  swaps.
!
!Compilation finished at Mon Jun  3 11:18:24

program Netherlands

  character(len=6), parameter, dimension(3) :: colors = (/'RED   ', 'WHITE ', 'blue  '/)
  integer, dimension(12) :: sort_me
  integer, dimension(999), target :: a999
  integer, dimension(9999), target :: a9999
  integer, dimension(:), pointer  :: pi
  integer :: i, swaps
  data sort_me/4*1,4*2,4*3/
  call shuffle(sort_me, 5)
  write(6,*)'Original and flag sequences'
  write(6,*) (colors(sort_me(i)), i = 1, size(sort_me))
  call partition3way(sort_me, 2, swaps)
  write(6,*) (colors(sort_me(i)), i = 1, size(sort_me))
  write(6,*) 12,'items,',swaps,' swaps.'
  pi => a999
  do i=1, size(pi)
    pi(i) = 1 + L(size(pi)/3 .lt. i) + L(2*size(pi)/3 .lt. i)
  end do
  call shuffle(pi, size(pi)/3+1)
  call partition3way(pi, 2, swaps)
  write(6,*) size(pi),'items,',swaps,' swaps.'
  pi => a9999
  do i=1, size(pi)
    pi(i) = 1 + L(size(pi)/3 .lt. i) + L(2*size(pi)/3 .lt. i)
  end do
  call shuffle(pi, size(pi)/3+1)
  call partition3way(pi, 2, swaps)
  write(6,*) size(pi),'items,',swaps,' swaps.'

contains

  integer function L(q)
    ! In Ken Iverson's spirit, APL logicals are more useful as integers.
    logical, intent(in) :: q
    if (q) then
      L = 1
    else
      L = 0
    end if
  end function L

  subroutine swap(a,i,j)
    integer, dimension(:), intent(inout) :: a
    integer, intent(in) :: i, j
    integer :: t
    t = a(i)
    a(i) = a(j)
    a(j) = t
  end subroutine swap

  subroutine partition3way(a, pivot, swaps)
    integer, dimension(:), intent(inout) :: a
    integer, intent(in) :: pivot
    integer, intent(out) :: swaps
    integer :: i, j, k
    swaps = 0
    i = 0
    j = 1
    k = size(a) + 1
    do while (j .lt. k)
      if (pivot .eq. a(j)) then
        j = j+1
        swaps = swaps-1
      else if (pivot .lt. a(j)) then
        k = k-1
        call swap(a, k, j)
      else
        i = i+1
        call swap(a, i, j)
        j = j+1
      end if
      swaps = swaps+1
    end do
  end subroutine partition3way

  subroutine shuffle(a, n) ! a rather specialized shuffle not for general use
    integer, intent(inout), dimension(:) :: a
    integer, intent(in) :: n
    integer :: i, j, k
    real :: harvest
    do i=1, size(a)-1
      call random_number(harvest)
      harvest = harvest - epsilon(harvest)*L(harvest.eq.1)
      k = L(i.eq.1)*(n-1) + i
      j = i + int((size(a) - k) * harvest)
      call swap(a, i, j)
    end do
  end subroutine shuffle

end program Netherlands
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|FreeBASIC}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="freebasic">
' El problema planteado por Edsger Dijkstra es:
' "Dado un número de bolas rojas, azules y blancas en orden aleatorio, 
' ordénelas en el orden de los colores de la bandera nacional holandesa."

Dim As String c = "RBW", n = "121509"
Dim As Integer bolanum = 9
Dim As Integer d(bolanum), k, i, j
Randomize Timer

Color 15: Print "Aleatorio: ";
For k = 1 To bolanum
    d(k) = Int(Rnd * 3) + 1
    Color Val(Mid(n, d(k), 2))
    Print Mid(c, d(k), 1) & Chr(219);
Next k

Color 15: Print : Print "Ordenado:  ";
For i = 1 To 3
    For j = 1 To bolanum
        If d(j) = i Then Color Val(Mid(n, i, 2)): Print Mid(c, i, 1) & Chr(219);
    Next j
Next i
End
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|FutureBasic}}==
FB has native sort functions ideal for this task.
<syntaxhighlight lang="furturebasic">

local fn SortBalls
  CFArrayRef   unsortedArray = @[@"🔴",@"⚪️",@"🔵",@"🔵",@"🔵",@"🔴",@"🔴",@"⚪️",@"⚪️",@"🔵",@"🔴",@"🔴",@"🔴",@"🔵",@"⚪️",@"🔴",@"🔴",@"🔵",@"⚪️"]
  CFArrayRef       sortedArr = fn ArraySortedArrayUsingSelector( unsortedArray, @"localizedStandardCompare:" )
  CFStringRef unsortedString = fn ArrayComponentsJoinedByString( unsortedArray, @"" )
  CFStringRef   sortedString = fn ArrayComponentsJoinedByString( sortedArr,     @"" )
  
  printf @"Unsorted balls:\n\t%@\n", unsortedString
  printf @"Sorted balls:\n\t%@", sortedString
end fn

fn SortBalls

HandleEvents
</syntaxhighlight>
{{output}}
<pre>
Unsorted balls:
	🔴⚪️🔵🔵🔵🔴🔴⚪️⚪️🔵🔴🔴🔴🔵⚪️🔴🔴🔵⚪️

Sorted balls:
	⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵
</pre>

=={{header|Gambas}}==
'''[https://gambas-playground.proko.eu/?gist=e57a862aff12647fa80c84a595161cb9 Click this link to run this code]'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="gambas">Public Sub Main()
Dim Red As String = "0"
Dim White As String = "1"
Dim Blue As String = "2"
Dim siCount As Short
Dim sColours As New String[]
Dim sTemp As String

For siCount = 1 To 20
  sColours.Add(Rand(Red, Blue))
Next

Print "Random: - ";

For siCount = 1 To 2
  For Each sTemp In sColours
    If sTemp = Red Then Print "Red ";
    If sTemp = White Then Print "White ";
    If sTemp = Blue Then Print "Blue ";
  Next
  sColours.Sort
  Print
  If siCount = 1 Then Print "Sorted: - ";
Next

End</syntaxhighlight>
Output:
<pre>
Random: - Blue Red Red White White White White Red Blue White Red Red White Blue White White Blue Red White Blue 
Sorted: - Red Red Red Red Red Red White White White White White White White White White Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue
</pre>

=={{header|Go}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="go">package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "math/rand"
    "time"
)

// constants define order of colors in Dutch national flag
const (
    red = iota
    white
    blue
    nColors
)

// zero object of type is valid red ball.
type ball struct {
    color int
}

// order of balls based on DNF
func (b1 ball) lt(b2 ball) bool {
    return b1.color < b2.color
}

// type for arbitrary ordering of balls
type ordering []ball

// predicate tells if balls are ordered by DNF
func (o ordering) ordered() bool {
    var b0 ball
    for _, b := range o {
        if b.lt(b0) {
            return false
        }
        b0 = b
    }
    return true
}

func init() {
    rand.Seed(time.Now().Unix())
}

// constructor returns new ordering of balls which is randomized but
// guaranteed to be not in DNF order.  function panics for n < 2.
func outOfOrder(n int) ordering {
    if n < 2 {
        panic(fmt.Sprintf("%d invalid", n))
    }
    r := make(ordering, n)
    for {
        for i, _ := range r {
            r[i].color = rand.Intn(nColors)
        }
        if !r.ordered() {
            break
        }
    }
    return r
}

// O(n) algorithm
// http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/tildeAlgDS/Sort/Flag/
func (a ordering) sort3() {
    lo, mid, hi := 0, 0, len(a)-1
    for mid <= hi {
        switch a[mid].color {
        case red:
            a[lo], a[mid] = a[mid], a[lo]
            lo++
            mid++
        case white:
            mid++
        default:
            a[mid], a[hi] = a[hi], a[mid]
            hi--
        }
    }
}

func main() {
    f := outOfOrder(12)
    fmt.Println(f)
    f.sort3()
    fmt.Println(f)
}</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
[{1} {0} {0} {2} {1} {1} {1} {2} {2} {0} {1} {2}]
[{0} {0} {0} {1} {1} {1} {1} {1} {2} {2} {2} {2}]
</pre>

=={{header|Haskell}}==
With the Color data type we take care that no other values than Red, White and Blue can be used.
The "deriving" clause is a key aspect: We want Haskell to make Color automatically an instance of the classes Show, Eq, Ord and Enum.
- Show means that Haskell can convert the data constructors Red, White and Blue to text.
- Eq means that two values of type Color can be compared for equality, as if they were numbers or characters.
- Ord means that one can sort a list of values of type Color according to the order in which the constructors Red, White and Blue were declared. We don't need to check if the order of the colors is right - it just is.
- Enum menas that Red, White and Blue are automatically enumerated: every constructor is assigned to an integer.

The function "sort" works with anything that belongs to the Eq and Ord classes.
The function "randomRIO" takes a range of two integers to give a random value within the range. We make Color an instance of Enum so that we can give Red, White and Blue as integers to randomRIO and convert the random number back to Red, White or Blue.
<syntaxhighlight lang="haskell">import Data.List (sort)
import System.Random (randomRIO)
import System.IO.Unsafe (unsafePerformIO)

data Color = Red | White | Blue deriving (Show, Eq, Ord, Enum)

dutch :: [Color] -> [Color]
dutch = sort

isDutch :: [Color] -> Bool
isDutch x = x == dutch x

randomBalls :: Int -> [Color]
randomBalls 0 = []
randomBalls n = toEnum (unsafePerformIO (randomRIO (fromEnum Red,
    fromEnum Blue))) : randomBalls (n - 1)

main :: IO ()
main = do
    let a = randomBalls 20
    case isDutch a of
        True -> putStrLn $ "The random sequence " ++ show a ++
            " is already in the order of the Dutch national flag!"
        False -> do
            putStrLn $ "The starting random sequence is " ++ show a ++ "\n"
            putStrLn $ "The ordered sequence is " ++ show (dutch a)</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
The starting random sequence is [White,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Red,Red,
White,White,Blue,White,White,Red,White,Blue,White,Red,Red]

The ordered sequence is [Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,White,White,White,White,White,
White,White,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue]
</pre>

To understand ''why'' Dijsktra was interested in the problem, here's an example showing difficiency of using generic sort:
<syntaxhighlight lang="haskell">inorder n = and $ zipWith (<=) n (tail n) -- or use Data.List.Ordered

mk012 :: Int -> Int -> [Int]	-- definitely unordered
mk012 n = (++[0]).(2:).map (`mod` 3).take n.frr where
	-- frr = Fast Rubbish Randoms
	frr = tail . iterate (\n -> n * 7 + 13)

dutch1 n = (filter (==0) n)++(filter (==1) n)++(filter (==2) n)

dutch2 n = a++b++c where
	(a,b,c) = foldl f ([],[],[]) n -- scan list once; it *may* help
	f (a,b,c) x = case x of
		0 -> (0:a, b, c)
		1 -> (a, x:b, c)
		2 -> (a, b, x:c)

main = do -- 3 methods, comment/uncomment each for speed comparisons
--	print $ inorder $ sort s	-- O(n log n)
--	print $ inorder $ dutch1 s	-- O(n)
	print $ inorder $ dutch2 s	-- O(n)
	where s = mk012 10000000 42</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Icon}} and {{header|Unicon}}==

The following solution works in both languages.

The problem statement isn't clear on whether the randomized list of balls
has to contain at least one of each color.  The approach below assumes that
you can have no balls of a given color (including no balls at all - though
that makes ensuring they're not properly sorted at the start hard...).  To
force at least one of each color ball, change "?n-1" to "?n" in the 3rd line.

<syntaxhighlight lang="unicon">procedure main(a)
    n := integer(!a) | 20
    every (nr|nw|nb) := ?n-1
    sIn := repl("r",nw)||repl("w",nb)||repl("b",nr)
    write(sRand := bestShuffle(sIn))
    write(sOut := map(csort(map(sRand,"rwb","123")),"123","rwb"))
    if sIn ~== sOut then write("Eh? Not in correct order!")
end

procedure bestShuffle(s)    # (Taken from the Best Shuffle task)
    t := s
    every !t :=: ?t    # Uncommented to get a random best shuffling
    every i := 1 to *t do
        every j := (1 to i-1) | (i+1 to *t) do
           if (t[i] ~== s[j]) & (s[i] ~== t[j]) then break t[i] :=: t[j]
    return t
end

procedure csort(w)
    every (s := "") ||:= (find(c := !cset(w),w),c)
    return s
end</syntaxhighlight>

A few sample runs:

<pre>
->dutch
bwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrbbbrrbrwwwrw
rrrrrrrrrrwwwwwwwwwwwwwbbbbb
->dutch
bbbbbbrbbbbbbrwwrwwrwwwwrw
rrrrrwwwwwwwwwbbbbbbbbbbbb
->dutch
bbbbbbbbbwbbwrrrrrrrrrwrrwwrr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwbbbbbbbbbbb
->dutch
wbrbrrwwrbrbwrrrrrrwrrrrrrrrr
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwbbbb
->
</pre>

=={{header|J}}==
We shall define a routine to convert the values 0 1 2 to ball names:
<syntaxhighlight lang="j">i2b=: {&(;:'red white blue')</syntaxhighlight>
and its inverse
<syntaxhighlight lang="j">b2i=: i2b inv</syntaxhighlight>
Next, we need a random assortment of balls:
<syntaxhighlight lang="j">   BALLS=: i2b ?20#3
   BALLS
┌────┬───┬────┬───┬───┬─────┬─────┬─────┬────┬────┬─────┬────┬────┬───┬────┬───┬─────┬───┬────┬───┐
│blue│red│blue│red│red│white│white│white│blue│blue│white│blue│blue│red│blue│red│white│red│blue│red│
└────┴───┴────┴───┴───┴─────┴─────┴─────┴────┴────┴─────┴────┴────┴───┴────┴───┴─────┴───┴────┴───┘</syntaxhighlight>
And we want to sort them in their canonical order:
<syntaxhighlight lang="j">      /:~&.b2i BALLS
┌───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
│red│red│red│red│red│red│red│white│white│white│white│white│blue│blue│blue│blue│blue│blue│blue│blue│
└───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘</syntaxhighlight>
Note that if we were not using J's built in sort, we would probably want to use [[Counting_sort|bin sort]] here.

Anyways, we can test that they are indeed sorted properly:
<syntaxhighlight lang="j">   assert@(-: /:~)&b2i /:~&.b2i BALLS</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Java}}==
The elements of an <code>enum</code> implement <code>Comparable</code> so the build-in sort works. You can also use this comparability to check the sort has worked.
<syntaxhighlight lang="java">import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Random;

public class DutchNationalFlag {
    enum DutchColors {
        RED, WHITE, BLUE
    }

    public static void main(String[] args){
        DutchColors[] balls = new DutchColors[12];
        DutchColors[] values = DutchColors.values();
        Random rand = new Random();

        for (int i = 0; i < balls.length; i++)
            balls[i]=values[rand.nextInt(values.length)];
        System.out.println("Before: " + Arrays.toString(balls));

        Arrays.sort(balls);
        System.out.println("After:  " + Arrays.toString(balls));

        boolean sorted = true;
        for (int i = 1; i < balls.length; i++ ){
            if (balls[i-1].compareTo(balls[i]) > 0){
                sorted=false;
                break;
            }
        }
        System.out.println("Correctly sorted: " + sorted);
    }
}</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>Before: [WHITE, RED, BLUE, RED, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, RED, WHITE, RED, WHITE, WHITE]
After:  [RED, RED, RED, RED, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE]
Correctly sorted: true</pre>

=={{header|Javascript}}==
===ES6===
<syntaxhighlight lang="javascript">const dutchNationalFlag = () => {

  /**
   * Return the name of the given number in this way:
   * 0 = Red
   * 1 = White
   * 2 = Blue
   * @param {!number} e
   */
  const name = e => e > 1 ? 'Blue' : e > 0 ? 'White' : 'Red';

  /**
   * Given an array of numbers return true if each number is bigger than
   * or the same as the previous
   * @param {!Array<!number>} arr
   */
  const isSorted = arr => arr.every((e,i) => e >= arr[Math.max(i-1, 0)]);

  /**
   * Generator that keeps yielding a random int between 0(inclusive) and
   * max(exclusive), up till n times, and then is done.
   * @param max
   * @param n
   */
  function* randomGen (max, n) {
    let i = 0;
    while (i < n) {
      i += 1;
      yield Math.floor(Math.random() * max);
    }
  }

  /**
   * An array of random integers between 0 and 3
   * @type {[!number]}
   */
  const mixedBalls = [...(randomGen(3, 22))];

  /**
   * Sort the given array into 3 sub-arrays and then concatenate those.
   */
  const sortedBalls = mixedBalls
    .reduce((p,c) => p[c].push(c) && p, [[],[],[]])
    .reduce((p,c) => p.concat(c), []);

  /**
   * A verbatim implementation of the Wikipedia pseudo-code
   * @param {!Array<!number>} A
   * @param {!number} mid The value of the 'mid' number. In our case 1 as
   * low is 0 and high is 2
   */
  const dutchSort = (A, mid) => {
    let i = 0;
    let j = 0;
    let n = A.length - 1;
    while(j <= n) {
      if (A[j] < mid) {
        [A[i], A[j]] = [A[j], A[i]];
        i += 1;
        j += 1;
      } else if (A[j] > mid) {
        [A[j], A[n]] = [A[n], A[j]];
        n -= 1
      } else {
        j += 1;
      }
    }
  };

  console.log(`Mixed balls       : ${mixedBalls.map(name).join()}`);
  console.log(`Is sorted: ${isSorted(mixedBalls)}`);

  console.log(`Sorted balls      : ${sortedBalls.map(name).join()}`);
  console.log(`Is sorted: ${isSorted(sortedBalls)}`);

  // Only do the dutch sort now as it mutates the mixedBalls array in place.
  dutchSort(mixedBalls, 1);
  console.log(`Dutch Sorted balls: ${mixedBalls.map(name).join()}`);
  console.log(`Is sorted: ${isSorted(mixedBalls)}`);
};
dutchNationalFlag();
</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Mixed balls       : Red,Red,Blue,Red,White,Red,White,Blue,Blue,White,White,Blue,Red,Blue,Blue,Red,White,Red,Red,Red,White,White
Is sorted: false
Sorted balls      : Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,White,White,White,White,White,White,White,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue
Is sorted: true
Dutch Sorted balls: Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,Red,White,White,White,White,White,White,White,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue,Blue
Is sorted: true
</pre>
=={{header|jq}}==
{{works with|jq}}
'''Also works with gojq, the Go implementation of jq.'''

'''Adapted from [[#Wren|Wren]]'''

In the following, /dev/random is used as a source of entropy.
In a bash or bash-like environment, a suitable invocation would
be as follows:
<pre>
< /dev/random tr -cd '0-9' | fold -w 1 | jq -Mcnr -f dnf.jq
</pre>
'''dnf.jq'''
<syntaxhighlight lang=jq>
# Output: a PRN in range(0; .)
def prn:
  if . == 1 then 0
  else . as $n
  | (($n-1)|tostring|length) as $w
  | [limit($w; inputs)] | join("") | tonumber
  | if . < $n then . else ($n | prn) end
  end;

def colors:   ["Red", "White", "Blue"];

def colorMap: {"Red": 0, "White": 1, "Blue": 2 };

def task($nballs):
  def sorted:
    . == sort_by(colorMap[.]);
  def generate:
    [range(0; $nballs) | colors[ 3|prn ] ]
    | if sorted then generate else . end;
  generate
  | "Before sorting : \(.)",
    "After sorting  : \(sort_by(colorMap[.]))" ;

task(9)
</syntaxhighlight>
{{output}}
<pre>
Before sorting : ["Blue","Red","Blue","White","Blue","White","Red","White","Blue"]
After sorting  : ["Red","Red","White","White","White","Blue","Blue","Blue","Blue"]
</pre>

=={{header|Julia}}==
Here the task is solved two ways, with a specialized routine and using the <tt>sort</tt> built-in.  <tt>dutchsort</tt> is a specialized sort based upon the <tt>three-way-partition</tt> pseudocode provided in the Wikipedia article referenced in the task description.  Timing each shows that <tt>dutchsort</tt> is about two orders of magnitude faster than <tt>sort</tt>.  (This relative performance result holds for a variety of color array sizes.)

'''Function'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="julia">
const COLORS = ["red", "white", "blue"]

function dutchsort!(a::Array{ASCIIString,1}, lo=COLORS[1], hi=COLORS[end])
    i = 1
    j = 1
    n = length(a)
    while j <= n
        if a[j] == lo
            a[i], a[j] = a[j], a[i]
            i += 1
            j += 1
        elseif a[j] == hi
            a[j], a[n] = a[n], a[j]
            n -= 1
        else
            j += 1
        end
    end
    return a
end

function dutchsort(a::Array{ASCIIString,1}, lo=COLORS[1], hi=COLORS[end])
    dutchsort!(copy(a), lo, hi)
end
</syntaxhighlight>

'''Main'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="julia">
function formatdf(a::Array{ASCIIString,1})
    i = 0
    s = "    "
    for c in a
        s *= @sprintf "%6s" c
        i += 1
        i %= 8
        if i == 0
            s *= "\n    "
        end
    end
    return s
end

cnum = 20
d = [COLORS[rand(1:3)] for i in 1:cnum]
while d == dutchsort(d)
    d = [COLORS[rand(1:3)] for i in 1:cnum]
end

println("The original list is:")
println(formatdf(d))

print("Sorting with dutchsort, ")
@time e = dutchsort(d)
println(formatdf(e))

print("Sorting conventionally, ")
@time e = sort(d, by=x->findfirst(COLORS, x))
println(formatdf(e))
</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
The original list is:
       red  blue   red  blue white  blue white white
      blue white white  blue white white  blue white
     white  blue  blue  blue
Sorting with dutchsort, elapsed time: 0.000520454 seconds (14104 bytes allocated)
       red   red white white white white white white
     white white white  blue  blue  blue  blue  blue
      blue  blue  blue  blue
Sorting conventionally, elapsed time: 0.062974782 seconds (1688896 bytes allocated)
       red   red white white white white white white
     white white white  blue  blue  blue  blue  blue
      blue  blue  blue  blue
</pre>

=={{header|Kotlin}}==
{{trans|D}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="scala">// version 1.1.4

import java.util.Random

enum class DutchColors { RED, WHITE, BLUE }

fun Array<DutchColors>.swap(i: Int, j: Int) {
    val temp = this[i]
    this[i] = this[j]
    this[j] = temp
}

fun Array<DutchColors>.sort() {
    var lo = 0
    var mid = 0
    var hi = this.lastIndex

    while (mid <= hi) {
        when (this[mid]) {
            DutchColors.RED   -> this.swap(lo++, mid++)
            DutchColors.WHITE -> mid++
            DutchColors.BLUE  -> this.swap(mid, hi--)
        }
    }
}

fun Array<DutchColors>.isSorted(): Boolean {
    return (1 until this.size)
        .none { this[it].ordinal < this[it - 1].ordinal }
}

const val NUM_BALLS = 9

fun main(args: Array<String>) {
    val r = Random()
    val balls  = Array(NUM_BALLS) { DutchColors.RED }
    val colors = DutchColors.values()

    // give balls random colors whilst ensuring they're not already sorted
    do {
        for (i in 0 until NUM_BALLS) balls[i] = colors[r.nextInt(3)]
    }
    while (balls.isSorted())

    // print the colors of the balls before sorting
    println("Before sorting : ${balls.contentToString()}")

    // sort the balls in DutchColors order
    balls.sort()

    // print the colors of the balls after sorting
    println("After sorting  : ${balls.contentToString()}")
}</syntaxhighlight>

Sample output:
<pre>
Before sorting : [WHITE, RED, RED, WHITE, BLUE, WHITE, BLUE, RED, RED]
After sorting  : [RED, RED, RED, RED, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE, BLUE]
</pre>

=={{header|Lasso}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="lasso">define orderdutchflag(a) => {
	local(r = array, w = array, b = array)
	with i in #a do => {
		match(#i) => {
			case('Red')
				#r->insert(#i)
			case('White')
				#w->insert(#i)
			case('Blue')
				#b->insert(#i)
		} 
	}
	return #r + #w + #b
}

orderdutchflag(array('Red', 'Red', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Red', 'Red', 'Red', 'White', 'Blue'))</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>array(Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue)</pre>

=={{header|Logo}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="logo">; We'll just use words for the balls
make "colors {red white blue}

; to get a mapping from colors back to a numeric value,
; we make variables out of the color names (e.g. the variable
; "red" has value "1").
foreach arraytolist :colors [
  make ? #
]

; Make a random list of a given size
to random_balls :n
  local "balls
  make "balls array n
  repeat n [
    setitem # :balls pick :colors
  ]
  output :balls
end

; Test for Dutchness
to dutch? :array
   output dutchlist? arraytolist :array
end

; List is easier than array to test
to dutchlist? :list
  output cond [
    [(less? count :list 2) "true]
    [(greater? thing first :list thing item 2 :list) "false ]
    [else dutchlist? butfirst :list]
  ]
end

; But array is better for sorting algorithm
to dutch :array
  local "lo
  make "lo 0
  local "hi
  make "hi sum 1 count :array
  local "i
  make "i 1
  while [:i < :hi] [
    case (item :i :array) [
      [[red]
         make "lo sum :lo 1
         swap :array :lo :i
         make "i sum :i 1
      ]
      [[white]
         make "i sum :i 1
      ]
      [[blue]
         make "hi difference :hi 1
         swap :array :hi :i
      ]
    ]
  ]
  output :array
end

; utility routine to swap array elements
to swap :array :a :b
  local "temp
  make "temp item :a :array
  setitem :a :array item :b :array
  setitem :b :array :temp
end</syntaxhighlight>

Test code:
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">do.while [
  make "list random_balls 10
] [dutch? :list]

print (sentence [Start list:] arraytolist :list)
print (sentence [Sorted:] arraytolist dutch :list)
bye</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>Start list: white blue red red red white blue red red white
Sorted: red red red red red white white white blue blue</pre>

=={{header|Lua}}==
The task seems to allow for some interpretation, so attempting to follow as literally as possible.
<syntaxhighlight lang="lua">-- "1. Generate a randomized order of balls.."
math.randomseed(os.time())
N, balls, colors = 10, {}, { "red", "white", "blue" }
for i = 1, N do balls[i] = colors[math.random(#colors)] end
-- "..ensuring that they are not in the order of the Dutch national flag."
order = { red=1, white=2, blue=3 }
function issorted(t)
  for i = 2, #t do
    if order[t[i]] < order[t[i-1]] then return false end
  end
  return true
end
local function shuffle(t)
  for i = #t, 2, -1 do
    local j = math.random(i)
    t[i], t[j] = t[j], t[i]
  end
end
while issorted(balls) do shuffle(balls) end
print("RANDOM:  "..table.concat(balls,","))

-- "2. Sort the balls in a way idiomatic to your language."
table.sort(balls, function(a, b) return order[a] < order[b] end)

-- "3. Check the sorted balls are in the order of the Dutch national flag."
print("SORTED:  "..table.concat(balls,","))
print(issorted(balls) and "Properly sorted." or "IMPROPERLY SORTED!!")</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>RANDOM:  white,white,blue,blue,red,red,blue,white,red,white
SORTED:  red,red,red,white,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue
Properly sorted.</pre>

=={{header|M2000 Interpreter}}==
Most times the Three Way Partition makes more changed than the first algorithm. Also if the array is sorted from the start, no changes give the first algorithm and 23 changes the Three Way Partition,

<syntaxhighlight lang="m2000 interpreter">
Report "Dutch Flag from Dijkstra"
const center=2
enum balls {Red, White, Blue}
fillarray=lambda a=(Red, White, Blue) (size as long=10)-> {
    if size<1 then size=1
    randomitem=lambda a->a#val(random(0,2))
    dim a(size)<<randomitem()
    =a()
}
Display$=lambda$ (s as array) ->{
    Document r$=eval$(array(s))
    if len(s)>1 then
    For i=1 to len(s)-1 {
        r$=", "+eval$(array(s,i))
    }
    end if
    =r$
}
TestSort$=lambda$ (s as array)-> {
    ="unsorted: "
    x=array(s)
    for i=1 to len(s)-1 {
        k=array(s,i)
        if x>k then break
        swap x, k
    }
    ="sorted: "
}
Positions=lambda mid=White (a as array) ->{
    m=len(a)
    dim Base 0, b(m)=-1
    low=-1
    high=m
    m--
    i=0
    medpos=stack
    link a to a()
    for i=m to 0 {
        if a(i)<=mid then exit
        high--
        b(high)=high
    }
    for i=0 to m {
        if a(i)>=mid then exit
        low++
        b(low)=low
    }
    if high-low>1 then
    for i=low+1 to high-1 {
        select case a(i)<=>Mid
        case -1
            low++ : b(low)=i
        case 1
        {
            high-- :b(high)=i
            if High<i then swap b(high), b(i)
        }
        else case
            stack medpos {data i}
        end select
    }
    end if
    if Len(medpos)>0 then
    dim c()
    c()=array(medpos)
    stock c(0) keep len(c()), b(low+1)
    for i=low+1 to high-1
           if b(i)>low and b(i)<high and b(i)<>i then swap b(b(i)), b(i)    
    next i
    end if
    if low>0  then
        for i=0 to low
            if b(i)<=low and b(i)<>i then swap b(b(i)), b(i)
        next 
    end if
    if High<m then
        for i=m to High
            if b(i)>=High and b(i)<>i then swap b(b(i)), b(i)
        next 
    end if
    =b()
}
InPlace=Lambda (&p(), &Final()) ->{
    def i=0, j=-1, k=-1, many=0
    for i=0 to len(p())-1
        if p(i)<>i then
            j=i
            z=final(j)
            do
                final(j)=final(p(j))
                k=j
                j=p(j)
                p(k)=k
                many++
            until j=i
            final(k)=z
        end if
    next
    =many
}


Dim final(), p(), second(), p1()
Rem final()=(White,Red,Blue,White,Red, Red, Blue)
Rem final()=(white, blue, red, blue, white)

final()=fillarray(30)
Print "Items: ";len(final())
Report TestSort$(final())+Display$(final())
\\ backup for final() for second example
second()=final()
p()=positions(final())
\\ backup p() to p1() for second example
p1()=p()


Report Center,  "InPlace"
rem Print p()   ' show array items
many=InPlace(&p(), &final())
rem print p()  ' show array items
Report TestSort$(final())+Display$(final())
print "changes: "; many


Report Center, "Using another array to make the changes"
final()=second()
\\ using a second array to place only the changes
item=each(p1())
many=0
While item {
    if item^=array(item) else final(item^)=second(array(item)) : many++
}
Report TestSort$(final())+Display$(final())
print "changes: "; many
Module three_way_partition (A as array, mid as balls, &swaps) {
    Def i, j, k
    k=Len(A)
    Link A to A()
    While j < k
        if A(j) < mid Then
            Swap A(i), A(j)
            swaps++
            i++
            j++
        Else.if A(j) > mid Then
            k--
            Swap A(j), A(k)
            swaps++
        Else
            j++
        End if
    End While
}
Many=0
Z=second()
Print
Report center, {Three Way Partition
}
Report TestSort$(Z)+Display$(Z)
three_way_partition Z, White, &many
Print
Report TestSort$(Z)+Display$(Z)
Print "changes: "; many

</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
Dutch Flag from Dijkstra
Items: 30
unsorted: Red, White, White, Red, Red, White, Blue, Red, Red, Blue, Red, Blue, White, White, Red, White, Blue, Blue, White, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue, White, Blue, White, Blue, Red, White, White
InPlace
sorted: Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue
changes: 20
Using another array to make the changes
sorted: Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue
changes: 20
Three Way Partition
unsorted: Red, White, White, Red, Red, White, Blue, Red, Red, Blue, Red, Blue, White, White, Red, White, Blue, Blue, White, Blue, Red, Blue, Blue, White, Blue, White, Blue, Red, White, White
sorted: Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, Red, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue
changes: 19
</pre>

=={{header|Mathematica}} / {{header|Wolfram Language}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="mathematica">flagSort[data_List] := Sort[data, (#1 === RED || #2 === BLUE) &]</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>flagSort[{WHITE, RED, RED, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE, WHITE, BLUE, BLUE, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE}]

{RED, RED, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, WHITE, BLUE, BLUE, BLUE, BLUE}</pre>

=={{header|Nim}}==
We have chosen to use the sorting algorithm proposed by Dijkstra. To switch from our solution to one using Nim sorting algorithm, one has to add “import algorithm” at the beginning and to replace the lines <code>var sortedColors = colors</code> and <code>threeWayPartition(sortedColors, White)</code> by the single line <code>let sortedColors = sorted(colors)</code>.

The number of colors may be specified as argument in the command line. By default, 10 colors are randomly chosen.

<syntaxhighlight lang="nim">import os, random, strutils

type Color {.pure.} = enum Red = "R", White = "W", Blue = "B"

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

proc isSorted(a: openArray[Color]): bool =
  # Check if an array of colors is in the order of the dutch national flag.
  var prevColor = Red
  for color in a:
    if color < prevColor:
      return false
    prevColor = color
  return true

#---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

proc threeWayPartition(a: var openArray[Color]; mid: Color) =
  ## Dijkstra way to sort the colors.
  var i, j = 0
  var k = a.high
  while j <= k:
    if a[j] < mid:
      swap a[i], a[j]
      inc i
      inc j
    elif a[j] > mid:
      swap a[j],  a[k]
      dec k
    else:
      inc j

#———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

var n: Positive = 10

# Get the number of colors.
if paramCount() > 0:
  try:
    n = paramStr(1).parseInt()
    if n <= 1:
      raise newException(ValueError, "")
  except ValueError:
    echo "Wrong number of colors"
    quit(QuitFailure)

# Create the colors.
randomize()
var colors = newSeqOfCap[Color](n)

while true:
  for i in 0..<n:
    colors.add(Color(rand(ord(Color.high))))
  if not colors.isSorted():
    break
  colors.setLen(0)  # Reset for next try.

echo "Original: ", colors.join("")

# Sort the colors.
var sortedColors = colors
threeWayPartition(sortedColors, White)
doAssert sortedColors.isSorted()
echo "Sorted:   ", sortedColors.join("")</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
With 10 colors:
<pre>Original: WWWRBRWWBW
Sorted:   RRWWWWWWBB</pre>

=={{header|PARI/GP}}==
A [[counting sort]] might be more appropriate here, but that would conceal the details of the sort.
<syntaxhighlight lang="parigp">compare(a,b)={
  if (a==b,
    0
  ,
   if(a=="red" || b=="blue", -1, 1)
  )
};
r(n)=vector(n,i,if(random(3),if(random(2),"red","white"),"blue"));
inorder(v)=for(i=2,#v,if(compare(v[i-1],v[i])>0,return(0)));1;

v=r(10);
while(inorder(v), v=r(10));
v=vecsort(v,compare);
inorder(v)</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>1</pre>

=={{header|Perl}}==
The task is probably not to just sort an array. The wikipedia links has a slightly better explanation that leads to the following code:
<syntaxhighlight lang="perl">use warnings;
use strict;
use 5.010; # //

use List::Util qw( shuffle );

my @colours = qw( blue white red );

sub are_ordered {
    my $balls = shift;
    my $last = 0;
    for my $ball (@$balls) {
        return if $ball < $last;
        $last = $ball;
    }
    return 1;
}


sub show {
    my $balls = shift;
    print join(' ', map $colours[$_], @$balls), "\n";
}


sub debug {
    return unless $ENV{DEBUG};

    my ($pos, $top, $bottom, $balls) = @_;
    for my $i (0 .. $#$balls) {
        my ($prefix, $suffix) = (q()) x 2;

        ($prefix, $suffix) = qw/( )/ if $i == $pos;
        $prefix           .= '>'     if $i == $top;
        $suffix           .= '<'     if $i == $bottom;

        print STDERR " $prefix$colours[$balls->[$i]]$suffix";
    }
    print STDERR "\n";
}


my $count = shift // 10;
die "$count: Not enough balls\n" if $count < 3;

my $balls = [qw( 2 1 0 )];
push @$balls, int rand 3 until @$balls == $count;
do { @$balls = shuffle @$balls } while are_ordered($balls);

show($balls);

my $top    = 0;
my $bottom = $#$balls;

my $i = 0;
while ($i <= $bottom) {
    debug($i, $top, $bottom, $balls);
    my $col = $colours[ $balls->[$i] ];
    if ('red' eq $col and $i < $bottom) {
        @{$balls}[$bottom, $i] = @{$balls}[$i, $bottom];
        $bottom--;
    } elsif ('blue' eq $col and $i > $top) {
        @{$balls}[$top, $i] = @{$balls}[$i, $top];
        $top++;
    } else {
        $i++;
    }
}
debug($i, $top, $bottom, $balls);

show($balls);
are_ordered($balls) or die "Incorrect\n";</syntaxhighlight>
You can run it with no parameters, it sorts 10 balls in such a case. If you provide one parameter, it is used as the number of balls. The second parameter turns on debugging that shows how the balls are being swapped.

=={{header|Phix}}==
Minimizes the number of read and swap operations, straight translation of the wikipedia pseudocode:
<!--<syntaxhighlight lang="phix">(phixonline)-->
 <span style="color: #008080;">with</span> <span style="color: #008080;">javascript_semantics</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">function</span> <span style="color: #000000;">three_way_partition</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #004080;">sequence</span> <span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #004080;">integer</span> <span style="color: #000000;">mid</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
     <span style="color: #004080;">integer</span> <span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span><span style="color: #000000;">1</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span><span style="color: #000000;">1</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #000000;">n</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #7060A8;">length</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">while</span> <span style="color: #000000;">j</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;"><=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">n</span> <span style="color: #008080;">do</span>
         <span style="color: #008080;">if</span> <span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;"><</span> <span style="color: #000000;">mid</span> <span style="color: #008080;">then</span>
             <span style="color: #0000FF;">{</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">],</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]}</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">{</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">],</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]}</span>
             <span style="color: #000000;">i</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">+=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">1</span>
             <span style="color: #000000;">j</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">+=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">1</span>
         <span style="color: #008080;">elsif</span> <span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">></span> <span style="color: #000000;">mid</span> <span style="color: #008080;">then</span>
             <span style="color: #0000FF;">{</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">],</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">n</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]}</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">{</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">n</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">],</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">j</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]}</span>
             <span style="color: #000000;">n</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">-=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">1</span>
         <span style="color: #008080;">else</span>
             <span style="color: #000000;">j</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">+=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">1</span>
         <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">if</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">while</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">return</span> <span style="color: #000000;">s</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">function</span>
  
 <span style="color: #008080;">constant</span> <span style="color: #000000;">colours</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">{</span><span style="color: #008000;">"red"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #008000;">"white"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #008000;">"blue"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">}</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">enum</span> <span style="color: #000080;font-style:italic;">/*red,*/</span> <span style="color: #000000;">white</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">2</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #000000;">blue</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #000000;">maxc</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">blue</span>
  
 <span style="color: #008080;">procedure</span> <span style="color: #000000;">show</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #004080;">string</span> <span style="color: #000000;">msg</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #004080;">sequence</span> <span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
     <span style="color: #004080;">sequence</span> <span style="color: #000000;">t</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #7060A8;">repeat</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">0</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #7060A8;">length</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">))</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">for</span> <span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span><span style="color: #000000;">1</span> <span style="color: #008080;">to</span> <span style="color: #7060A8;">length</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span> <span style="color: #008080;">do</span>
         <span style="color: #000000;">t</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">colours</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">s</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">[</span><span style="color: #000000;">i</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">]]</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">for</span>
     <span style="color: #7060A8;">printf</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">1</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #008000;">"%s: %s\n"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,{</span><span style="color: #000000;">msg</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #7060A8;">join</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">t</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)})</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">procedure</span>
  
 <span style="color: #004080;">sequence</span> <span style="color: #000000;">unsorted</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span> <span style="color: #000000;">sorted</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">while</span> <span style="color: #000000;">1</span> <span style="color: #008080;">do</span>
     <span style="color: #000000;">unsorted</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #7060A8;">sq_rand</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #7060A8;">repeat</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">maxc</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #000000;">12</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">))</span>
 <span style="color: #000080;font-style:italic;">--  sorted = sort(deep_copy(unsorted)) -- (works just as well)</span>
     <span style="color: #000000;">sorted</span> <span style="color: #0000FF;">=</span> <span style="color: #000000;">three_way_partition</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #7060A8;">deep_copy</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #000000;">unsorted</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">),</span> <span style="color: #000000;">white</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
     <span style="color: #008080;">if</span> <span style="color: #000000;">unsorted</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">!=</span><span style="color: #000000;">sorted</span> <span style="color: #008080;">then</span> <span style="color: #008080;">exit</span> <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">if</span>
     <span style="color: #0000FF;">?</span><span style="color: #008000;">"oops"</span>
 <span style="color: #008080;">end</span> <span style="color: #008080;">while</span>
 <span style="color: #000000;">show</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #008000;">"Unsorted"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #000000;">unsorted</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
 <span style="color: #000000;">show</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">(</span><span style="color: #008000;">"Sorted"</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">,</span><span style="color: #000000;">sorted</span><span style="color: #0000FF;">)</span>
<!--</syntaxhighlight>-->
<small>I thought of unsorted=shuffle(unsorted) in the "oops" loop, but of course that'd repeat forever should they all be the same colour.</small>
{{out}}
<pre>
Unsorted: blue blue blue blue red white white red white red white blue
Sorted: red red red white white white white blue blue blue blue blue
</pre>

=={{header|Picat}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="picat">go =>
  _ = random2(), % random seed
  N = 21,
  Map = new_map([1=red,2=white,3=blue]),
  [Rand,Sorted] = dutch_random_sort(N,Map,Map.inverse()),
  println('rand  '=Rand),
  println(sorted=Sorted),
  nl.

% generate a random order and ensure it's not already dutch sorted
dutch_random_sort(N,Map,MapInv) = [Rand,Sorted] => 
  Rand = dutch_random1(N,Map),
  Sorted = dutch_sort(Rand,MapInv),
  while (Rand == Sorted)
    println("Randomize again"),
    Rand := dutch_random1(N,Map),
    Sorted := dutch_sort(Rand,MapInv)
  end.

dutch_random1(N,Map) = [Map.get(1+(random() mod Map.map_to_list().length)) : _I in 1..N].

dutch_sort(L,MapInv) = [R : _=R in [MapInv.get(R)=R : R in L].sort()].

inverse(Map) = new_map([V=K : K=V in Map]).</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>rand   = [red,blue,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue,red,red,blue,white,blue,blue,red,white,blue,blue,white,white,red]
sorted = [red,red,red,red,red,white,white,white,white,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue]</pre>

=={{header|PicoLisp}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="picolisp">(def 'Colors
   (list
      (def 'RED 1)
      (def 'WHITE 2)
      (def 'BLUE 3) ) )

(let (L (make (do 9 (link (get Colors (rand 1 3)))))  S (by val sort L))
   (prin "Original balls ")
   (print L)
   (prinl (unless (= L S) " not sorted"))
   (prin "Sorted balls   ")
   (print S)
   (prinl " are sorted") )</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Original balls (RED BLUE WHITE BLUE BLUE RED WHITE WHITE WHITE) not sorted
Sorted balls   (RED RED WHITE WHITE WHITE WHITE BLUE BLUE BLUE) are sorted</pre>

=={{header|PowerShell}}==
{{works with|PowerShell|2}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="powershell">
$Colors = 'red', 'white','blue'
 
#  Select 10 random colors
$RandomBalls = 1..10 | ForEach { $Colors | Get-Random }
 
#  Ensure we aren't finished before we start. For some reason. It's in the task requirements.
While ( $RandomBalls -eq $RandomBalls | Sort { $Colors.IndexOf( $_ ) } )
    { $RandomBalls = 1..10 | ForEach { $Colors | Get-Random } }
 
#  Sort the colors
$SortedBalls = $RandomBalls | Sort { $Colors.IndexOf( $_ ) }
 
#  Display the results
$RandomBalls
''
$SortedBalls
</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
white
blue
blue
blue
white
red
white
blue
red
red

red
red
red
white
white
white
blue
blue
blue
blue
</pre>

=={{header|Prolog}}==
Works with SWI-Prolog 6.1.11
===Prolog spirit===
<syntaxhighlight lang="prolog">dutch_flag(N) :-
	length(L, N),
	repeat,
	  maplist(init,L),
	\+is_dutch_flag(L) ,
	writeln(L),
	test_sorted(L),
	sort_dutch_flag(L, TmpFlag),
	append(TmpFlag, Flag),
	writeln(Flag),
	test_sorted(Flag).


sort_dutch_flag([], [[], [], []]).

sort_dutch_flag([blue | T], [R, W, [blue|B]]) :-
	sort_dutch_flag(T, [R, W, B]).

sort_dutch_flag([red | T], [[red|R], W, B]) :-
	sort_dutch_flag(T, [R, W, B]).


sort_dutch_flag([white | T], [R, [white | W], B]) :-
	sort_dutch_flag(T, [R, W, B]).


init(C) :-
	R is random(3),
	nth0(R, [blue, red, white], C).


test_sorted(Flag) :-
	(   is_dutch_flag(Flag)
	->  write('it is a dutch flag')
	;   write('it is not a dutch flag')),
	nl,nl.

% First color must be red
is_dutch_flag([red | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_red(T).


is_dutch_flag_red([red|T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_red(T);
	% second color must be white
	T = [white | T1],
	is_dutch_flag_white(T1).


is_dutch_flag_white([white | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_white(T);
	% last one must be blue
	T = [blue | T1],
	is_dutch_flag_blue(T1).

is_dutch_flag_blue([blue | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_blue(T).

is_dutch_flag_blue([]).
</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre> ?- dutch_flag(20).
[blue,white,white,blue,blue,blue,red,blue,red,blue,blue,blue,white,red,red,blue,blue,red,blue,red]
it is not a dutch flag

[red,red,red,red,red,red,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue,blue]
it is a dutch flag
true .
</pre>

===Functional spirit===
Use of filters.
<syntaxhighlight lang="prolog">dutch_flag(N) :-
	length(L, N),

	% create the list to sort
	repeat,
	  maplist(init,L),
	\+is_dutch_flag(L) ,
	writeln(L),
	test_sorted(L),

	foldl(\X^Y^Z^(Y = [Red, White, Blue],
		      (	  X = blue
		      ->  append_dl(Blue, [X|U]-U, Blue1),
			  Z = [Red, White, Blue1]
		      ;	  X = red
		      ->  append_dl(Red, [X|U]-U, Red1),
			  Z = [Red1, White, Blue]
		      ;	  append_dl(White, [X|U]-U, White1),
			  Z = [Red, White1, Blue])),
	      L, [R-R, W-W, B-B], [R1, W1, B1]),
	append_dl(R1, W1, B1, Flag-[]),
	write(Flag), nl,
	test_sorted(Flag).

% append lists in O(1)
append_dl(A-B, B-C, A-C).
append_dl(A-B, B-C, C-D, A-D).


init(C) :-
	R is random(3),
	nth0(R, [blue, red, white], C).


test_sorted(Flag) :-
	(   is_dutch_flag(Flag)
	->  write('it is a dutch flag')
	;   write('it is not a dutch flag')),
	nl,nl.

% First color must be red
is_dutch_flag([red | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_red(T).


is_dutch_flag_red([red|T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_red(T);
	% second color must be white
	T = [white | T1],
	is_dutch_flag_white(T1).


is_dutch_flag_white([white | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_white(T);
	% last one must be blue
	T = [blue | T1],
	is_dutch_flag_blue(T1).

is_dutch_flag_blue([blue | T]) :-
	is_dutch_flag_blue(T).

is_dutch_flag_blue([]).
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Python}}==
===Python: Sorted===
The heart of the idiomatic Dutch sort in python is the call to function <code>sorted</code> in function <code>dutch_flag_sort</code>.
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">import random

colours_in_order = 'Red White Blue'.split()

def dutch_flag_sort(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'return sort of items using the given order'
    reverse_index = dict((x,i) for i,x in enumerate(order))
    return sorted(items, key=lambda x: reverse_index[x])

def dutch_flag_check(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'Return True if each item of items is in the given order'
    reverse_index = dict((x,i) for i,x in enumerate(order))
    order_of_items = [reverse_index[item] for item in items]
    return all(x <= y for x, y in zip(order_of_items, order_of_items[1:]))

def random_balls(mx=5):
    'Select from 1 to mx balls of each colour, randomly'
    balls = sum([[colour] * random.randint(1, mx)
                 for colour in colours_in_order], [])
    random.shuffle(balls)
    return balls

def main():
    # Ensure we start unsorted
    while True:
        balls = random_balls()
        if not dutch_flag_check(balls):
            break
    print("Original Ball order:", balls)
    sorted_balls = dutch_flag_sort(balls)
    print("Sorted Ball Order:", sorted_balls)
    assert dutch_flag_check(sorted_balls), 'Whoops. Not sorted!'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()</syntaxhighlight>
{{out|Sample output}}
<pre>Original Ball order: ['Red', 'Red', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Red', 'Red', 'Red', 'White', 'Blue']
Sorted Ball Order: ['Red', 'Red', 'Red', 'Red', 'Red', 'White', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Blue', 'Blue']</pre>

===Python: sum of filters===
This follows the [[wp:Dutch_national_flag_problem#Critic|critics section]] 
of the wikipedia article by using a sum of filters.

Replace the function/function call dutch_flag_sort above, with dutch_flag_sort2 defined as:
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">from itertools import chain
def dutch_flag_sort2(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'return summed filter of items using the given order'
    return list(chain.from_iterable(filter(lambda c: c==colour, items)
                                    for colour in order))</syntaxhighlight> 

Or equivalently using a list comprehension (though perhaps less clear):
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">def dutch_flag_sort2(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'return summed filter of items using the given order'
    return [c for colour in order for c in items if c==colour]</syntaxhighlight> 
Output follows that of the sorting solution above.

===Python: Construct from ball counts===
This reconstructs the correct output by counting how many of each colour there are.

Replace the function/function call dutch_flag_sort above, with dutch_flag_sort3 defined as:
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">def dutch_flag_sort3(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'counts each colour to construct flag'
    return sum([[colour] * items.count(colour) for colour in order], [])</syntaxhighlight> 
Output follows that of the sorting solution above.

===Python: Explicit in-place sort===
<syntaxhighlight lang="python">import random

colours_in_order = 'Red White Blue'.split()

def dutch_flag_sort(items):
    '''\
    In-place sort of list items using the given order.
    Python idiom is to return None when argument is modified in-place

    O(n)? Algorithm from Go language implementation of
    http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~lloyd/tildeAlgDS/Sort/Flag/'''

    lo, mid, hi = 0, 0, len(items)-1
    while mid <= hi:
        colour = items[mid]
        if colour == 'Red':
            items[lo], items[mid] = items[mid], items[lo]
            lo += 1
            mid += 1
        elif colour == 'White':
            mid += 1
        else:
            items[mid], items[hi] = items[hi], items[mid]
            hi -= 1

def dutch_flag_check(items, order=colours_in_order):
    'Return True if each item of items is in the given order'
    order_of_items = [order.index(item) for item in items]
    return all(x <= y for x, y in zip(order_of_items, order_of_items[1:]))

def random_balls(mx=5):
    'Select from 1 to mx balls of each colour, randomly'
    balls = sum(([[colour] * random.randint(1, mx)
                 for colour in colours_in_order]), [])
    random.shuffle(balls)
    return balls

def main():
    # Ensure we start unsorted
    while 1:
        balls = random_balls()
        if not dutch_flag_check(balls):
            break
    print("Original Ball order:", balls)
    dutch_flag_sort(balls)
    print("Sorted Ball Order:", balls)
    assert dutch_flag_check(balls), 'Whoops. Not sorted!'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()</syntaxhighlight>
Output follows that of the sorting solution above.

=={{header|Racket}}==

<syntaxhighlight lang="racket">
#lang racket

(define dutch-colors '(red white blue))

(define (dutch-order? balls)
  ;; drop each color from the front, should end up empty
  (null? (for/fold ([r balls]) ([color dutch-colors])
           (dropf r (curry eq? color)))))

(define (random-balls)
  (define balls
    (for/list ([i (random 20)])
      (list-ref dutch-colors (random (length dutch-colors)))))
  (if (dutch-order? balls) (random-balls) balls))

;; first method: use a key to map colors to integers
(define (order->key order)
  (let ([alist (for/list ([x order] [i (in-naturals)]) (cons x i))])
    (λ(b) (cdr (assq b alist)))))
(define (sort-balls/key balls)
  (sort balls < #:key (order->key dutch-colors)))

;; second method: use a comparator built from the ordered list
(define ((order<? ord) x y)
  (memq y (cdr (memq x ord))))
(define (sort-balls/compare balls)
  (sort balls (order<? dutch-colors)))

(define (test sort)
  (define balls (random-balls))
  (define sorted (sort balls))
  (printf "Testing ~a:\n  Random: ~s\n  Sorted: ~s\n      ==> ~s\n"
          (object-name sort)
          balls sorted (if (dutch-order? sorted) 'OK 'BAD)))
(for-each test (list sort-balls/key sort-balls/compare))
</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
Testing sort-balls/order:
  Random: (red blue blue white red blue red red blue blue red red white blue)
  Sorted: (red red red red red red white white blue blue blue blue blue blue)
      ==> OK
Testing sort-balls/compare:
  Random: (red blue white blue white white white blue red blue blue blue white)
  Sorted: (red red white white white white white blue blue blue blue blue blue)
      ==> OK
</pre>

=={{header|Raku}}==
(formerly Perl 6)
Here are five ways to do it, all one liners (apart from the test apparatus).
<syntaxhighlight lang="raku" line>enum NL <red white blue>;
my @colors;

sub how'bout (&this-way) {
    sub show {
        say @colors;
        say "Ordered: ", [<=] @colors;
    }

    @colors = NL.roll(20);
    show;
    this-way;
    show;
    say '';
}

say "Using functional sort";
how'bout { @colors = sort *.value, @colors }

say "Using in-place sort";
how'bout { @colors .= sort: *.value }

say "Using a Bag";
how'bout { @colors = flat red, white, blue Zxx bag(@colors».key)<red white blue> }

say "Using the classify method";
how'bout { @colors = flat (.list for %(@colors.classify: *.value){0,1,2}) }

say "Using multiple greps";
how'bout { @colors = flat (.grep(red), .grep(white), .grep(blue) given @colors) }</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Using functional sort
red red white white red red red red red red red white red white red red red white white white
Ordered: False
red red red red red red red red red red red red red white white white white white white white
Ordered: True

Using in-place sort
red blue white red white blue white blue red white blue blue blue red white white red blue red blue
Ordered: False
red red red red red red white white white white white white blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue
Ordered: True

Using a Bag
red blue blue blue white red white red white blue blue red red red red blue blue red white blue
Ordered: False
red red red red red red red red white white white white blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue
Ordered: True

Using the classify method
blue red white blue blue white white red blue red red white red blue white white red blue red white
Ordered: False
red red red red red red red white white white white white white white blue blue blue blue blue blue
Ordered: True

Using multiple greps
red white blue white white red blue white red white red white white white white white red red blue red
Ordered: False
red red red red red red red white white white white white white white white white white blue blue blue
Ordered: True</pre>

=={{header|REXX}}==
===colors (as words)===
This version uses a version of a bin sort with counts, and has been generalized to allow any number of colors.

The REXX solution could've been simplified somewhat by the use of the &nbsp; '''countstr''' &nbsp; BIF &nbsp; (but some older REXX interpreters don't have).

<syntaxhighlight lang="rexx">/*REXX program reorders a set of random colored balls into a correct order, which is the*/
/*────────────────────────────────── order of colors on the Dutch flag:  red white blue.*/
parse arg N colors                               /*obtain optional arguments from the CL*/
if N='' |  N=","  then N=15                      /*Not specified?  Then use the default.*/
if colors=''  then colors= 'red white blue'      /* "      "         "   "   "      "   */
#=words(colors)                                  /*count the number of colors specified.*/
@=word(colors, #)    word(colors, 1)             /*ensure balls aren't already in order.*/

    do g=3  to N                                 /*generate a random # of colored balls.*/
    @=@  word( colors, random(1, #) )            /*append a random color to the  @ list.*/
    end   /*g*/

say 'number of colored balls generated = '   N       ;  say
say center(' original ball order ', length(@), "─")
say @                                                ;  say
$=;                          do j=1  for #;
                             _=word(colors, j);      $=$  copies(_' ',   countWords(_, @))
                             end   /*j*/
say
say center(' sorted  ball order ', length(@), "─")
say space($)
say
    do k=2  to  N                                /*verify the balls are in correct order*/
    if wordpos(word($,k), colors) >= wordpos(word($,k-1), colors)  then iterate
    say "The list of sorted balls isn't in proper order!";         exit 13
    end   /*k*/
say
say 'The sorted colored ball list has been confirmed as being sorted correctly.'
exit                                             /*stick a fork in it,  we're all done. */
/*──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────*/
countWords:  procedure;   parse arg ?,hay;  s=1
                  do r=0  until _==0;  _=wordpos(?, hay, s);  s=_+1;  end /*r*/;  return r</syntaxhighlight>
'''output''' &nbsp; when using the default input: 
<pre>
number of colored balls generated =  15

────────────────────────── original ball order ───────────────────────────
blue red white blue white white red blue blue blue red blue red blue white


─────────────────────────── sorted  ball order ───────────────────────────
red red red red white white white white blue blue blue blue blue blue blue


The sorted colored ball list has been confirmed as being sorted correctly.
</pre>

===colors (as letters)===
<syntaxhighlight lang="rexx">/*REXX program reorders a set of random colored balls into a correct order, which is the*/
/*────────────────────────────────── order of colors on the Dutch flag:  red white blue.*/
parse arg N colors                               /*obtain optional arguments from the CL*/
if N='' |  N=","  then N=15                      /*Not specified?  Then use the default.*/
if colors=''      then colors= "RWB"             /*use default:  R=red, W=white, B=blue */
#=length(colors)                                 /*count the number of colors specified.*/
@=right(colors, 1)left(colors, 1)                /*ensure balls aren't already in order.*/

    do g=3  to N                                 /*generate a random # of colored balls.*/
    @=@ ||substr( colors, random(1, #), 1)       /*append a color (1char) to the @ list.*/
    end   /*g*/

say 'number of colored balls generated = '    N      ;    say
say center(' original ball order ', max(30,2*#), "─")
say @                                                ;    say
$=;                          do j=1  for #;             _=substr(colors, j, 1)
                             #=length(@) - length( space( translate(@, , _),   0) )
                             $=$ || copies(_, #)
                             end   /*j*/
say center(' sorted  ball order ', max(30, 2*#), "─")
say $
say
    do k=2  to N                                 /*verify the balls are in correct order*/
    if pos(substr($,k,1), colors) >= pos(substr($,k-1,1), colors)  then iterate
    say "The list of sorted balls isn't in proper order!";         exit 13
    end   /*k*/
say
say 'The sorted colored ball list has been confirmed as being sorted correctly.'
exit                                             /*stick a fork in it,  we're all done. */</syntaxhighlight>
'''output''' &nbsp; when using the default input: 
<pre>
number of colored balls generated =  15

──── original ball order ─────
BRRRRBWWRBWRRBR

───── sorted  ball order ─────
RRRRRRRRWWWBBBB


The sorted colored ball list has been confirmed as being sorted correctly.

</pre>

=={{header|Ring}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="ring">
# Project : Dutch national flag problem

flag = ["Red","White","Blue"]
balls = list(10)
 
see "Random: |"
for i = 1 to 10
     color = random(2) + 1
     balls[i] = flag[color]
     see  balls[i] + " |"
next 
see nl
 
see "Sorted: |"
for i = 1 to 3
     color = flag[i]
     for j = 1 to 10
          if balls[j] = color 
             see balls[j] + " |"
          ok
     next
next
</syntaxhighlight>
Output:
<pre>
Random: |Red |Blue |Red |White |Red |Blue |White |Blue |Red |White |
Sorted: |Red |Red |Red |Red |White |White |White |Blue |Blue |Blue |
</pre>

=={{header|Ruby}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="ruby">class Ball
  FLAG = {red: 1, white: 2, blue: 3}
 
  def initialize
    @color = FLAG.keys.sample
  end

  def color
    @color
  end

  def <=>(other)  # needed for sort, results in -1 for <, 0 for == and 1 for >.
    FLAG[self.color] <=> FLAG[other.color]
  end

  def inspect
    @color
  end
end

balls = [] 
balls = Array.new(8){Ball.new} while balls == balls.sort

puts "Random: #{balls}"
puts "Sorted: #{balls.sort}"
  </syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>Random: [blue, red, red, red, blue, blue, white, red]
Sorted: [red, red, red, red, white, blue, blue, blue]
</pre>

=={{header|Run BASIC}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="runbasic">flag$ = "Red,White,Blue"

print "Random: |";
for i = 1 to 10
color = rnd(0) * 3 + 1
balls$(i) = word$(flag$,color,",")
print  balls$(i);" |";
next i

print :print "Sorted: |";
for i = 1 to 3
 color$ = word$(flag$,i,",")
 for j = 1 to 10
  if balls$(j) = color$ then 
    print balls$(j);" |";
  end if
next j
next i</syntaxhighlight>
<pre>Random: |White |Blue |White |Red |Red |White |Red |Blue |Red |White |
Sorted: |Red |Red |Red |Red |White |White |White |White |Blue |Blue |</pre>

=={{header|Rust}}==
{{libheader|rand}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="rust">extern crate rand;

use rand::Rng;

// Color enums will be sorted by their top-to-bottom declaration order
#[derive(Eq,Ord,PartialOrd,PartialEq,Debug)]
enum Color {
    Red,
    White,
    Blue
}

fn is_sorted(list: &Vec<Color>) -> bool {
    let mut state = &Color::Red;
    for current in list.iter() {
        if current < state { return false; }
        if current > state { state = current; }
    }
    true
}


fn main() {
    let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
    let mut colors: Vec<Color> = Vec::new();

    for _ in 1..10 {
        let r = rng.gen_range(0, 3);
        if      r == 0 { colors.push(Color::Red); }
        else if r == 1 { colors.push(Color::White); }
        else if r == 2 { colors.push(Color::Blue); }
    }

    while is_sorted(&colors) {
        rng.shuffle(&mut colors);
    }

    println!("Before: {:?}", colors);
    colors.sort();
    println!("After:  {:?}", colors);
    if !is_sorted(&colors) {
        println!("Oops, did not sort colors correctly!");
    }
}</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Scala}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="scala">object FlagColor extends Enumeration {
    type FlagColor = Value
    val Red, White, Blue = Value
}

val genBalls = (1 to 10).map(i => FlagColor(scala.util.Random.nextInt(FlagColor.maxId)))
val sortedBalls = genBalls.sorted
val sorted = if (genBalls == sortedBalls) "sorted" else "not sorted"

println(s"Generated balls (${genBalls mkString " "}) are $sorted.")
println(s"Sorted balls (${sortedBalls mkString " "}) are sorted.")</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>Generated balls (Blue Blue Blue White Blue Blue Red Red Blue White) are not sorted.
Sorted balls (Red Red White White Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue Blue) are sorted.</pre>

=={{header|sed}}==
The first part of the task is skipped, as there is no possibility to create random data within ''sed'' itself.
<syntaxhighlight lang="sed">:la
s/\(WW*\)\([RB].*\)/\2\1/
t la
:lb
s/\(BB*\)\([RW].*\)/\2\1/
t lb
/^RR*WW*BB*$/!d</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
$ echo WRRWRRRBBWBRRWBWWB | sed -f dutch_flag_sort.sed
RRRRRRRWWWWWWBBBBB
</pre>

=={{header|SQL}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="sql">-- Create and populate tables
create table colours (id integer primary key, name varchar(5));
insert into colours (id, name) values ( 1, 'red'  );
insert into colours (id, name) values ( 2, 'white');
insert into colours (id, name) values ( 3, 'blue' );

create table balls ( colour integer references colours );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 2 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 2 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 3 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 2 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 1 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 3 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 3 );
insert into balls ( colour ) values ( 2 );

-- Show the balls are unsorted
select
	colours.name
from
	balls
	join colours on balls.colour = colours.id;

-- Show the balls in dutch flag order
select
	colours.name
from
	balls
	join colours on balls.colour = colours.id
order by
	colours.id;

-- Tidy up
drop table balls;
drop table colours;</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>COLOUR
------
white
white
blue
white
red
blue
blue
white


COLOUR
------
red
white
white
white
white
blue
blue
blue</pre>
# ''Generating a randomized order of balls ensuring that they are not in the order of the Dutch national flag.'' Hmm - just loaded some data - could do better here...
# ''Sort the balls in a way idiomatic to your language.'' Yup!
# ''Check the sorted balls are in the order of the Dutch national flag.'' Not checked beyond eyeballing - is there a db implementation that gets <tt>order by</tt> wrong??

=={{header|Swift}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="swift">// Algorithm from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_national_flag_problem
func partition3<T: Comparable>(_ a: inout [T], mid: T) {
    var i = 0
    var j = 0
    var k = a.count - 1
    while j <= k {
        if a[j] < mid {
            a.swapAt(i, j);
            i += 1;
            j += 1;
        } else if a[j] > mid {
            a.swapAt(j, k);
            k -= 1;
        } else {
            j += 1;
        }
    }
}

func isSorted<T: Comparable>(_ a: [T]) -> Bool {
    var i = 0
    let n = a.count
    while i + 1 < n {
        if a[i] > a[i + 1] {
            return false
        }
        i += 1
    }
    return true
}

enum Ball : CustomStringConvertible, Comparable {
  case red
  case white
  case blue
  
  var description : String {
    switch self {
    case .red: return "red"
    case .white: return "white"
    case .blue: return "blue"
    }
  }
}

var balls: [Ball] = [ Ball.red, Ball.white, Ball.blue,
                      Ball.red, Ball.white, Ball.blue,
                      Ball.red, Ball.white, Ball.blue]
balls.shuffle()
print("\(balls)")
print("Sorted: \(isSorted(balls))")

partition3(&balls, mid: Ball.white)
print("\(balls)")
print("Sorted: \(isSorted(balls))")</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>
[white, blue, red, red, white, blue, red, blue, white]
Sorted: false
[red, red, red, white, white, white, blue, blue, blue]
Sorted: true
</pre>

=={{header|Tcl}}==
This isn't very efficient in terms of the sorting itself (and it happens to use <code>lsearch</code> twice in the comparator!) but it is very simple to write like this.
<syntaxhighlight lang="tcl"># The comparison function
proc dutchflagcompare {a b} {
    set colors {red white blue}
    return [expr {[lsearch $colors $a] - [lsearch $colors $b]}]
}

# The test function (evil shimmer of list to string!)
proc isFlagSorted lst {
    expr {![regexp {blue.*(white|red)} $lst] && ![regexp {white.*red} $lst]}
}

# A ball generator
proc generateBalls n {
    for {set i 0} {$i<$n} {incr i} {
	lappend result [lindex {red white blue} [expr {int(rand()*3)}]]
    }
    return $result
}

# Do the challenge with 20 balls
set balls [generateBalls 20]
if {[isFlagSorted $balls]} {
    error "already a sorted flag"
}
set sorted [lsort -command dutchflagcompare $balls]
if {[isFlagSorted $sorted]} {
    puts "Sorted the flag\n$sorted"
} else {
    puts "sort failed\n$sorted"
}</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Sorted the flag
red red red red red red red white white white white white white white white white blue blue blue blue
</pre>

=={{header|uBasic/4tH}}==
This version is based on Edsger Dijkstra's original algorithm. The flag may come out a bit shredded , but it has been assembled the correct way.
<syntaxhighlight lang="text">s = 100

For x = 0 To s-1
  @(x) = Rnd(3)
Next
                                       ' Edsger Dijkstra algorithm starts here
i = 0
j = 0
k = s-1
    
Do
  While j < k+1     
    If @(j) = 0 Then                   ' case "red"
      Push @(j) : @(j) = @(i) : @(i) = Pop()
      i = i + 1                        ' fairly efficient exchange
      j = j + 1
    Else If @(j) = 2 then              ' case "blue"
      Push @(j) : @(j) = @(k) : @(k) = Pop()
      k = k - 1                        ' fairly efficient exchange
    Else                               ' you'd expect case "white" here
      j = j + 1
    Endif Endif
Loop
                                       ' end of Dijkstra's algorithm
n = 0    

For x = 0 To s-1                       ' now show the whole shebang
  If @(x) # n Then Print : n = @(x)
  Print Chr(Peek ("RWB", @(x)));
Next

Print</syntaxhighlight>
{{Out}}
<pre>RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

0 OK, 0:858</pre>
=={{header|UNIX Shell}}==
{{works with|Bash}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">COLORS=(red white blue)

# to go from name to number, we make variables out of the color names 
# (e.g. the variable "$red" has value "1").
for (( i=0; i<${#COLORS[@]}; ++i )); do
  eval ${COLORS[i]}=$i
done

# Make a random list
function random_balls {
  local -i n="$1"
  local -i i
  local balls=()
  for (( i=0; i < n; ++i )); do
    balls+=("${COLORS[RANDOM%${#COLORS[@]}]}")
  done
  echo "${balls[@]}"
}

# Test for Dutchness
function dutch? {
  if (( $# < 2 )); then
     return 0
  else
    local first="$1"
    shift
    if eval "(( $first > $1 ))"; then
      return 1
    else
      dutch? "$@"
    fi
  fi
}

# Sort into order
function dutch {
  local -i lo=-1 hi=$# i=0
  local a=("$@")
  while (( i < hi )); do
    case "${a[i]}" in
      red)
        let lo+=1
        local t="${a[lo]}"
        a[lo]="${a[i]}"
        a[i]="$t"
        let i+=1
        ;;
      white) let i+=1;;
      blue)
        let hi-=1
        local t="${a[hi]}"
        a[hi]="${a[i]}"
        a[i]="$t"
        ;;
    esac
  done
  echo "${a[@]}"
}</syntaxhighlight>

Test code:
<syntaxhighlight lang="bash">declare -i len=${1:-10}
balls=()
while (( ${#balls[@]} < len )) || dutch? "${balls[@]}"; do
  balls=($(random_balls "$len"))
done
echo "Initial list: ${balls[@]}"
balls=($(dutch "${balls[@]}"))
echo "Sorted: ${balls[@]}"</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
<pre>Initial list: blue blue red blue red blue blue white blue red
Sorted: red red red white blue blue blue blue blue blue</pre>

=={{header|VBScript}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="vb">
'Solution derived from http://www.geeksforgeeks.org/sort-an-array-of-0s-1s-and-2s/.

'build an unsorted array with n elements
Function build_unsort(n)
	flag = Array("red","white","blue")
	Set random = CreateObject("System.Random")
	Dim arr()
	ReDim arr(n)
	For i = 0 To n
		arr(i) = flag(random.Next_2(0,3))
	Next
	build_unsort = arr
End Function

'sort routine
Function sort(arr)
	lo = 0
	mi = 0
	hi = UBound(arr)
	Do While mi <= hi 
		Select Case arr(mi)
			Case "red"
				tmp = arr(lo)
				arr(lo) = arr(mi)
				arr(mi) = tmp
				lo = lo + 1
				mi = mi + 1
			Case "white"
				mi = mi + 1
			Case "blue"
				tmp = arr(mi)
				arr(mi) = arr(hi)
				arr(hi) = tmp
				hi = hi - 1
		End Select 
	Loop
	sort = Join(arr,",")
End Function

unsort = build_unsort(11)
WScript.StdOut.Write "Unsorted: " & Join(unsort,",")
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine
WScript.StdOut.Write "Sorted: " & sort(unsort)
WScript.StdOut.WriteLine
</syntaxhighlight>

{{Out}}
<pre>
Unsorted: blue,white,white,blue,red,red,blue,red,red,red,white,white
Sorted: red,red,red,red,red,white,white,white,white,blue,blue,blue
</pre>

=={{header|Visual FoxPro}}==
===SQL Version===
<syntaxhighlight lang="vfp">
CLOSE DATABASES ALL
LOCAL lcCollate As String, i As Integer, n As Integer
lcCollate = SET("Collate")
SET COLLATE TO "Machine"
*!* Colours table
CREATE CURSOR colours (id I UNIQUE, colour V(5))
INSERT INTO colours VALUES (1, "Red")
INSERT INTO colours VALUES (2, "White")
INSERT INTO colours VALUES (3, "Blue")
*!* Balls table
CREATE CURSOR balls (colour I, rowid I AUTOINC)
INDEX ON colour TAG colour
SET ORDER TO 0
*!* Make sure there is at least 1 of each colour
INSERT INTO balls (colour) VALUES(3)
INSERT INTO balls (colour) VALUES(1)
INSERT INTO balls (colour) VALUES(2)
RAND(-1)	&& Initialise random number generator
n = 24
FOR i = 4 TO n
	INSERT INTO balls (colour) VALUES (RanInt())
ENDFOR
*!* Show unsorted
SELECT bb.rowid, cc.colour FROM colours cc JOIN balls bb ON cc.id = bb.colour  
*!* Select by correct order
SELECT bb.rowid, cc.colour FROM colours cc JOIN balls bb ON cc.id = bb.colour ;
ORDER BY cc.id INTO CURSOR dutchflag 
*!* Show sorted records
BROWSE NOMODIFY IN SCREEN 
SET COLLATE TO lcCollate

FUNCTION RanInt() As Integer
RETURN INT(3*RAND()) + 1
ENDFUNC
</syntaxhighlight>
===Array Version===
<syntaxhighlight lang="vfp">
LOCAL i As Integer, n As Integer, colours As String, k As Integer
colours = "Red,White,Blue"
n = 15
LOCAL ARRAY balls[n,2]
*!* Make sure there is at least 1 of each colour
balls[1,1] = "Blue"
balls[1,2] = 3
balls[2,1] = "Red"
balls[2,2] = 1
balls[3,1] = "White"
balls[3,2] = 2
RAND(-1)	&& Initialise random number generator
FOR i = 4 TO n
	k = RanInt()
	balls[i,1] = GETWORDNUM(colours, k, ",")
	balls[i,2] = k
ENDFOR
*!* Show the unsorted array
CLEAR
? "Unsorted..."
FOR i = 1 TO n
	? balls[i,1], balls[i,2]
ENDFOR
*!* Sort the array on column 2
ASORT(balls, 2)
*!* And show it...
?
? "Sorted..."
FOR i = 1 TO n
	? balls[i,1], balls[i,2]
ENDFOR
	
FUNCTION RanInt() As Integer
RETURN INT(3*RAND()) + 1
ENDFUNC
</syntaxhighlight>

=={{header|Wren}}==
{{libheader|Wren-sort}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="ecmascript">import "random" for Random
import "/sort" for Sort

var colors = ["Red", "White", "Blue"]
var colorMap = { "Red": 0, "White": 1, "Blue": 2 }
var colorCmp = Fn.new { |c1, c2| (colorMap[c1] - colorMap[c2]).sign }
var NUM_BALLS = 9
var r = Random.new()
var balls = List.filled(NUM_BALLS, colors[0])

while (true) {
    for (i in 0...NUM_BALLS) balls[i] = colors[r.int(3)]
    if (!Sort.isSorted(balls, colorCmp)) break
}

System.print("Before sorting : %(balls)")
Sort.insertion(balls, colorCmp)
System.print("After sorting  : %(balls)")</syntaxhighlight>

{{out}}
Sample run:
<pre>
Before sorting : [Blue, Blue, White, Blue, White, Blue, Red, White, White]
After sorting  : [Red, White, White, White, White, Blue, Blue, Blue, Blue]
</pre>

=={{header|XPL0}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang "XPL0">
def  Red, White, Blue;
def  Size = 10;
int  A(Size), N;

proc ShowOrder;
[for N:= 0 to Size-1 do
    case A(N) of
      Red:  Text(0, "Red ");
      Blue: Text(0, "Blue ")
    other   Text(0, "White ");
CrLf(0);
];

proc Part3Ways;         \Partition array A three ways (code from Wikipedia)
def  Mid = White;
int  I, J, K, T;
[I:= 0;  J:= 0;  K:= Size-1;
while J <= K do
    if A(J) < Mid then
            [T:= A(I);  A(I):= A(J);  A(J):= T;
            I:= I+1;
            J:= J+1;
            ]
    else if A(J) > Mid then
            [T:= A(J);  A(J):= A(K);  A(K):= T;
            K:= K-1;
            ]
    else    J:= J+1;
];

[for N:= 0 to Size-1 do A(N):= Ran(3);
Text(0, "Original order : ");
ShowOrder;
Part3Ways;
Text(0, "Sorted order   : ");
ShowOrder;
]</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Original order : Red Red Blue Blue White Red Red White Blue Red 
Sorted order   : Red Red Red Red Red White White Blue Blue Blue 
</pre>

=={{header|zkl}}==
<syntaxhighlight lang="zkl">const RED=0, WHITE=1, BLUE=2; var BALLS=T(RED,WHITE,BLUE);
fcn colorBalls(balls){ balls.apply(T("red","white","blue").get).concat(", "); }

reg balls, sortedBalls;
do{
   balls=(0).pump(12,List,fcn{ BALLS[(0).random(3)] }); // create list of 12 random balls
   sortedBalls=balls.sort(); // balls is read only, sort creates new list
}while(balls==sortedBalls); // make sure sort does something
println("Original ball order:\n", colorBalls(balls));
println("\nSorted ball order:\n", colorBalls(sortedBalls));</syntaxhighlight>
{{out}}
<pre>
Original ball order:
white, white, red, blue, red, red, red, red, blue, red, white, blue

Sorted ball order:
red, red, red, red, red, red, white, white, white, blue, blue, blue
</pre>

=={{header|ZX Spectrum Basic}}==
{{trans|Run_BASIC}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="zxbasic">10 LET r$="Red": LET w$="White": LET b$="Blue"
20 LET c$="RWB"
30 DIM b(10)
40 PRINT "Random:"
50 FOR n=1 TO 10
60 LET b(n)=INT (RND*3)+1
70 PRINT VAL$ (c$(b(n))+"$");" ";
80 NEXT n
90 PRINT ''"Sorted:"
100 FOR i=1 TO 3
110 FOR j=1 TO 10
120 IF b(j)=i THEN PRINT VAL$ (c$(i)+"$");" ";
130 NEXT j
140 NEXT i</syntaxhighlight>