Hi Roger, I am new to the forum and found your thread in the archives. I hope it’s not too late to send you my feedback.
I’ve been working at getting more comfortable with J for a while. I’m still very much a beginner, but I have learned quite a bit from “Learning J,” and I consider it to be the most valuable resource I’ve encountered thus far. Aside from one semester of computer science in college, everything I know about programming has come from sources on the internet. I’ve learned a little bit about a lot of languages, enough to tweak code here and there, but I’m not an expert in any language. From what I’ve seen so far, I like J a lot because it’s very different from other languages and you can do so much with so little. But I have had a harder time progressing with it than with other languages because there aren’t as many resources available. One thing I haven’t had much luck finding are enough good puzzles or challenges to help me improve my skills and get me "thinking in J.” Around the same time I started looking at J, I also started a Python-based CS101 course they had on Udacity.com . I think I was able to progress much faster in Python than in J, because the material was presented in a progressive way but also had good challenges to help ingrate the material covered after each section and incorporate the material from prior sections. I really appreciate "Learning J" because the material is presented very logically and clearly, but I have stalled a bit in my progression because I haven’t found enough challenges at my level. I think I need a few more “homework problems” so I can absorb the material. I have tried to invent a few challenges for myself, and I’ve looked on Rosetta Code. But with J it’s a bit difficult because things that are hard in other languages might be super simple and easy in J, and things that are easy (or at least things I already know how to do) in other languages might not be so intuitive in J. So I find there is a big gap between too easy and too hard, and I’ve had a hard time finding things in the middle to challenge myself. Perhaps there are other resources out there that I haven’t encountered yet, but if not, you might consider adding a few puzzles or challenges to go along with each chapter. Everything is so thoughtfully presented that with the addition of a few challenges, in my opinion, Learning J would really become the perfect go-to resource for a beginner. Thank you! Chel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
