Each atom of a boxed array can be any of the four types of a noun. I think the wording is to cover that case. On Apr 23, 2012 11:03 AM, "km" <[email protected]> wrote:
> From the Dictionary II.A. Nouns, "The atoms of any array must belong to a > single class: numeric, literal, symbol, or boxed." > > How about saying the type of a noun is numeric, literal, symbol, or boxed. > Leave it at that. > > Sent from my iPad > > > On Apr 23, 2012, at 8:24 AM, Raul Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > > > "Type" has been an ill-defined term in the context of J. > > > > But it's a popular word, for describing some aspects of computer > > programs, and a short word. So it probably deserves some use. > > > > And, I think, in the context of J, it should signify a thing that can > > go inside parenthesis. That concept needs a name, and I think "type" > > fits it rather well. > > > > Thus, we have system types: (1)(+)(1) > > > > We have named types: (smoutput)(ARGV) > > > > We have anonymous types: (+/%#) (i.9) > > > > We have types of nouns, types of verbs and so on. > > > > We have numeric types, textual types, list types (and these can > > overlap), and so on. > > > > etc. > > > > Now, one thing that this loses is the idea of a type as a > > collection... or does it? (1 2 3 4) > > > > No, what this loses is the idea of a type as a representation of > > possibilities... or does it? ? bind 100 > > > > No, what this loses is the idea of a type as a storage format. But > > when I have proposed the idea that "type" represents a storage format, > > I have been told that that's silly, by people who would be in a > > position to know. > > > > Another concept of a type is that it represents a "domain", but that > > has a similar lack of acceptance from people that deal with types on a > > regular basis. > > > > Anyways, if my proposal here has any flaws, I think it's that this > > definition of "type" might be too restrictive for some people. But I > > think that that is ok -- you can use another language if you want to > > use a different concept of type. > > > > Comments? > > > > Thanks, > > > > -- > > Raul > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > 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
