For myself I remember finding it easier to parse tacit expressions without conjunctions initially. For that reason I preferred the use of [: to @ . Over time, as I became more fluent with J words/symbols and was able to easily identify verbs, conjunctions and adverbs I found myself preferring @ in many cases because of the way it binds component verbs together visually.
So yes reducing the vocabulary helps, but I can see that reducing the complexity of the grammar by reducing the usage of conjunctions helps too. Other things that I think may make life easier for new J users is syntax highlighting that differentiates words by their part-of-speech (jgtk does this by default) and the use of whitespace when composing tacit expressions to group compound verbs together. (+/ % #) vs (+/%#) On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 7:04 AM, Raul Miller <rauldmil...@gmail.com> wrote: > Personally, I do not find |. 3 $ |. n easier to read at a glance. than > 3&$&.|. n > > But I think your point is that by reducing the vocabulary expected of the > reader, you open the door to a larger audience. > > But, given that the vocabulary of J is rather small to begin with, and > given that you are still going to have to be able to read J to understand J > sentences, I am not sure how significant this effect can be. > > -- > Raul > > > On Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 11:51 AM, Kip Murray <k...@math.uh.edu> wrote: > >> Let me try. >> >> The expression 3$&.|.n occurs on the Vocabulary page for Rank u"n . >> From the definition of &. we can decipher that >> >> 3 $&.|. n is |. (|. 3) $ (|. n) that is |. 3 $ |. n >> >> Isn’t that last easier to understand at a glance? >> >> Simple J prefers trains with no conjunction other than Rank " . >> >> Expressed in Simple J the verb applied to n is [: |. 3 $ |. . >> >> Perhaps a better name would be Beginner's J. Keep the syntax simple, >> make ranks explicit when you need to think about them. Eventually you >> will need to graduate from Beginner's J. >> >> >> On 11/29/2011 9:35 AM, Tracy Harms wrote: >> > Linda, >> > >> > It does not seem to me that rephrasing to avoid @ (rank-zero composition) >> > makes expressions simpler, either in this specific case or in general. >> > >> > If you'd like to elaborate on why that seems simpler to you, I'd like to >> > hear your perspective. >> > >> > --Tracy >> > >> > >> > On Sat, Nov 26, 2011 at 9:46 AM, Linda Alvord<lindaalv...@verizon.net >> >wrote: >> > >> >> A function that works. It is not simple. Remove the @ >> >> >> >> Linda >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> >> From: programming-boun...@jsoftware.com >> >> [mailto:programming-boun...@jsoftware.com] On Behalf Of EelVex >> >> Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 9:15 AM >> >> To: matxinle...@hotmail.com >> >> Cc: Programming forum >> >> Subject: Re: [Jprogramming] FW: A simple function >> >> >> >> On Sat, Nov 26, 2011 at 11:29 AM, m l<matxinle...@hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> >> >>> >> >>> I`m a beginner in J programming. >> >>> I need writing a simple function: >> >>> >> >>> round ( x * sqrt (x*y)) >> >>> >> >>> Thanks in advance. >> >>> >> >>> Matxin >> >>> >> >>> >> >> Among the gazillion ways to do this: >> >> >> >> f =: [:<.0.5+ {. * %:@*/ >> >> f 15 30 >> >> 318 >> >> ------ >> >> 1. If you have a list of two numbers: x,y, you multiply them with `*/`: >> >> */ 15 30 >> >> 450 >> >> >> >> 2. You then take the square root (`%:`) of (`@`) that: >> >> (%: @ */) 15 30 >> >> 21.2132 >> >> >> >> 3. and multiply that by the first term of your list (`{.`) >> >> ({. * (%: @ */)) 15 30 >> >> 318.198 >> >> >> >> 4. You then "apply" (`[:`) rounding (`<.0.5+`) to that: >> >> ([:<.0.5+ {. * (%:@*/)) 15 30 >> >> 318 >> >> >> >> Note that the construct in step 3 is a train of 3 verbs (see: >> >> http://www.jsoftware.com/help/learning/09.htm). >> >> (f g h) y == (f y) g (h y) >> >> where >> >> y = 15 30 >> >> f = {. (take first) >> >> g = * (multiply) >> >> h = %:@*/ (square root of product) >> >> >> >> Also, you round a number n by taking the floor of (n + 0.5). >> >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
