I studied a bit of APL in order to understand some old papers written in APL.
I think that helped me learning J(or array-based thinking, more generally) in a significant way. Some of the papers: APL thinking: examples http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=384282.28370 A survey “APL thinking” http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=122384 APL thinking, Whizbang!, APL Quote Quad vol 27 by Roy A. Sykes, Jr. Array algorithms http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1047882&dl=GUIDE&coll=GUIDE&CFID=36167917&CFTOKEN=62860633 APL thinking finding array-oriented solutions http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=805361&dl=GUIDE&coll=GUIDE&CFID=36167917&CFTOKEN=62860633 On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 10:01 PM, Ian Gorse <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi list, > > I have been following J for around a year now, after seeing some > solutions to Project Euler in J's (initial) cryptic syntax. As someone > who likes to learn new things, I couldn't resist the urge to visit the > J programming website and download the software. > Now, I have been learning J purely from a curiosity point of view, and > have solved half of my Project Eulers problems with J, so I am slowing > getting the hang of it and enjoying my time experimenting with J. As I > am not mathematically inclined, I do find it a challenge understanding > various terminologies that is used throughout the help system but its > nice expanding my knowledge. > > Not long after I started to experiment with J, I hear of APL, and > after a quick search I quickly dismissed it after, 1. unable to find > an interpreter, 2. noticed it needed it own keyboard, and 3. the > symbols turned me off before I gave it a chance. > > Well, as I said above, as I like to learn new things I decided to look > up APL a bit more and soon found, NARS2000 interpreter, a nice > keyboard bitmap that shows where the symbols are on a standard > keyboard, and a very excellent interactive tutorial called Zark APL > Tutor. > > I have been going through the Zark APL Tutor the past couple of days, > and I actually use both J and NARS2000, side by side, with the tutor > software, and I am finding that I have a better "understanding" in J. > > I know that they are very similar but by having a good understanding > of APL, will it it help in the learning process of J? > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
