APL characters has conceptual _problems_. Suppose you invented a new super duper function or operator, but the existing chars in Unicode set don't really fit, or don't fit at all. An enervating discussion then ensues on how you denote this new function or operator.
For instance, how would you denote I. (interval index) or i: (index of last)? On Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 3:21 PM, PMA <[email protected]> wrote: > What conceptual advantage if any would > APL characters offer, were the whatever > problems overcome? > > (Could the conceptual problems not _be_ > overcome, without obliterating J's 1-char- > plus-''-or-'.'-or-':' command organization?) > > > Roger Hui wrote: > >> In that case: using ASCII chars is easy; using APL chars has problems, >> both conceptual and technical. >> >> >> On Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 2:00 PM, PMA<[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Raul, >>> >>> Thanks for the forwards! >>> >>> Remember SHARP APL/PC? I used it (still got the ROM chip& kybd >>> stickons) happily for ca a dozen years, then migrated, I forget why, >>> to J once that had apparently survived its birth traumas (Ver 4.0?). >>> All on a desktop, per Linux after migrating to J, as big as my house. >>> >>> I'm 74, an ex-pianist, some-kind-o-composer, and ex-Unix-sys-adm >>> (this last, as my kids for years& years insisted on eating regularly). >>> >>> Point is: I do mean my initial "putting aside...". Re the APL char set, >>> I don't care what troubles some new gizmo has with them, or who >>> "wants/likes" what, or how folks all queasy at the unfamiliar might >>> tank any weird characters' market share. >>> >>> I'm just interested to know how harnessing APL characters might >>> serve to enhance J _conceptually_ . That's all. >>> >>> Please forgive the geezer-rant. >>> >>> Pete >>> >>> >>> Raul Miller wrote: >>> >>> An issue here is the whole "walled garden" mythos behind consumer >>>> devices. >>>> >>>> Phones are convenient to carry but so small that keyboarding is >>>> difficult, >>>> and tightly regulated as well (at least for the connectivity aspects). >>>> >>>> Tablets have fewer constraints, but a smaller market. There are no "must >>>> have applications" or "games" that really drive sales of tablets. >>>> >>>> And for real convenience, people mostly ignore text and go with imagery. >>>> The APL character set can be seen as a step in this direction, but it's >>>> not >>>> enough of a step for most people. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> 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
