Hi - have you looked at issues of Vector - for instance http://archive.vector.org.uk/?qry=howard%20a.%20peelle - or the meeting notes (particularly the "Beginner's Regatta") of NYCJUG? For instance, http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/NYCJUG/2009-11-10#Beginner.27s_regatta, http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/NYCJUG/2012-03-14, and http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/NYCJUG/2012-10-10.
On Fri, Jan 23, 2015 at 3:56 PM, Raul Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > I have encountered similar issues - finding the right kinds of > problems to tackle. (I hope that you do not mind that I am not Roger.) > > One trick, though, is that any problem for another language can be > used as a problem in J. Of course, as you have noticed, sometimes > difficulty is tricky. > > Another trick, though, is that you can solve problems in J just like > you can in other languages. The result can be painfully slow, but > that's not necessarily a problem. Often you can deal with speed issues > by reducing the size of the problem. > > Also, once you have solved a problem in a slow way, you can work on > rephrasing it, so that it is better. If you have a solution which is > acceptably fast on some test data, you can set up a simple assert > statement to compare a new version's behavior with the old version's > behavior. > > Also, you can inspect the partial results (perhaps logging them, or > some such) to get a better idea of what kinds of data you are working > with. This can really help. > > Also, when problem difficulty is too steep, you can see if people here > on the forums (or elsewhere) have any suggestions. We might not always > have good suggestions (that depends) but sometimes we will (and > sometimes difficulties can launch further efforts). > > And, for that matter, you might find it useful to leave a blog trail > about problems you found that seem nice, or any other such thing (for > others who find themselves in circumstances similar to yours). > > Finally, hello, and welcome! > > Thanks, > > -- > Raul > > > On Fri, Jan 23, 2015 at 3:13 PM, Chel <[email protected]> wrote: > > 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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > -- Devon McCormick, CFA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
