I did once ask a fellow, knowledgable programmer if the distinction between
function and operator in conventional languages in fact meant "with which
alphabet do you spell it?"
If it's a plain old ASCII name, like "plus", it's a function; a symbol like
"+" is an operator, even if both tokens behave exactly the same.
Ultimately not a particularly illuminating distinction.


On Wed, Mar 7, 2018 at 10:56 PM, Ian Clark <earthspo...@gmail.com> wrote:

> >  it does not match my understanding of how standards bodies work
>
> However they work, they don't seem to produce a leading answer to a leading
> question.
>
> Before posting my appeal, I googled variants of "ISO computer terminology".
> I got the impression there were over 30 ISO committees dealing with aspects
> of this topic, including the vexed one of translating computer manuals. I
> gave up and asked this forum if anyone could recommend the leading (ISO)
> source of common terms, like: platform, program, etc. (…hey! – I've just
> reduxed my original post.)
>
> It seems nobody can. I might as well have asked the Freemasons their
> meaning of "secret society".
>
> > that does not match my understanding of how language use works
>
> What hope is there of dialog with someone if you don't agree on basic
> terms?
> That's my understanding of how language use works. Or doesn't.
>
> Yet here I am, setting out (…yet again) to talk to non-J initiates about J
> – and I want to use words which I know they'll understand, like: variable,
> constant, function – and I want to avoid words like noun, verb, pronoun,
> proverb – because that's all J mystery jargon.
>
> Don't I need a touchstone of definitions my reader and I will agree on?
>
> To-date I've come up with these candidates:
>   (a) The Oxford Dictionary (…nowadays better than I expected it to be,
> going by past experience)
>   (b) The following site: http://techterms.com
> …which is cool. Just what I was looking for. But lacks the authority of an
> ISO standard.
>
> Also (…oh no!) I look up a word like: Constant –and I don't agree with what
> it says…
>   https://techterms.com/definition/constant
> In the final para it seems to be describing #define, not: const (…if you
> know any C/C++).
> Plus no mention of IMHO the chief role of a "constant": to behave
> programatically like a variable but preclude reassignment.
> Thus scotching the perennial C/C++ bug:
>     if (myconst = x) { … }
>
> Also, on the home page, "Today's Quiz Question" is garbled… not a good sign
> for something purporting to be authoritative.
>
> Can anyone do better?
>
> …there, now I've described exactly what I'm looking for.
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 6:27 PM, Raul Miller <rauldmil...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I do not think that "common usage" depends on ISO standards.
> >
> > Or, at least, that does not match my understanding of how language use
> > works (and, for that matter, it does not match my understanding of how
> > standards bodies work).
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > --
> > Raul
> >
> >
> > On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 11:42 AM, Ian Clark <earthspo...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > Sorry, Joe, I want "common programmer terms" for "platform, program,
> > etc",
> > > i.e. terms common to all programmers, not just J-ers.
> > >
> > > Especially not J-ers!
> > >
> > > I tried looking up some of these terms in the Oxford Dictionary of
> > English
> > > (courtesy Apple) and I'm impressed. It seems it has authoritative but
> > > straightforward meanings under the subheading "Computing" for all I've
> > tried
> > > .
> > >
> > > But I'm still hoping to hear what ISO standard people on this list use,
> > or
> > > some standards body. I'm taking the baffled silence to mean that nobody
> > has
> > > ever used such a list. The fabled precision of IT professionals doesn't
> > > extend to terminology, it seems.
> > >
> > > Such lists exist. I've seen them – though only in German, and that was
> > > decades ago. Documenters need them for the purpose of translating
> > manuals.
> > > Though maybe the whole thing is still woolly, like it was in my day. An
> > > Arab once told me he always used the English manual because he couldn't
> > > make head or tail of the Arabic one.
> > >
> > > On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 2:57 PM, Joe Bogner <joebog...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> I went back and looked at some of the existing material
> > >>
> > >> This seems to be a good list of definitions with examples:
> > >> http://www.jsoftware.com/help/primer/contents.htm
> > >>
> > >> This text seems devoid of too many terms:
> > >> http://www.jsoftware.com/books/pdf/easyj.pdf
> > >>
> > >> Of course, I'm not reading these with "beginner eyes" so both may
> still
> > >> need to be unpacked more
> > >>
> > >> On Tue, Mar 6, 2018 at 7:28 AM, Ian Clark <earthspo...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > It's absurdly difficult to write a good "first-contact" text for J
> > >> without
> > >> > reference to a single accepted source of definitions like: platform,
> > >> > program, app, script, variable, constant, function, array, string,
> > >> > character, number …
> > >> >
> > >> > Is there an ISO standard for common programmer terms (in English)?
> > >> >
> > >> > If the answer is: legion (…my first impression) – then is there one
> > that
> > >> > stands out for you?
> > >> >
> > >> > I have an operational need for a weblink to a good clear published
> > free
> > >> > authoritative text. To avoid cluttering this thread, please don't
> > offer
> > >> > your own definitions of the above terms here (although of course I'd
> > be
> > >> > frightfully interested to hear them one day.)
> > >> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > ----------
> > >> > 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
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
>



-- 

Devon McCormick, CFA

Quantitative Consultant
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