i don't think reading reading (for top down) as L->R is easier to read
than (for top down) L<-R .. it's just a matter of which way we cast our
eyes. There only seems to be an easier direction because of habit.
Unlike the difference in typing in different directions. We cant change
the direction the text insertion point goes as easily as we can change
the direction of our visual scan. (Typing then backspacing)^:n fragments
thought much more than changing the direction of a glance.
+ haven't you thought that it's inconsistent when you have:
expr1
expr2
expr3
evaluate in order .. but when you decide to bring them onto one line in
the natural way with simple backdelete:
expr1 [expr2
expr
then
expr1 [expr2 [expr3
suddenly the order of evaluation is reversed?
re: creating a text editor that enters text L<-R .. i think it'd be
easier to create a string with the expression typed in as a natural
L->R, then reverse the string to evaluate it (thanks to J using single
char vocab).
eg:
d =. 3 4 5 6
". |. 'd/+|9=0'
NB. 1
On 2011-08-14 16:17, Raul Miller wrote:
> On Sun, Aug 14, 2011 at 8:07 AM, mijj<[email protected]> wrote:
>> but J .. beautiful as it is, isn't just for looking at .. it's for
>> constructing. Design may be top down, but our thoughts in terms of
>> construction form an expression beginning with the detail and develop
>> towards the final outocome - and our characters appear on the page from
>> L->R.
>
> Ok?
>
> But I thought you had agreed, in your previous post:
>
> "An expression evaluated from right to left is the easiest to read
> from left to right. "
>
> I do not see the advantages in making it harder to read.
>
>> L->R flows naturally from the keyboard
>> d/+|9=0
>
> If you like you can build yourself a text editor that enters text from
> right to left.
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm