I suggested to Henry that that line should be changed to 1!:5(#~ [:*/\.0=#@(1!:0)@>)}:&.>,&.>/\(<;.2~e.&'/\')ofn
The underlying problems are two: [1] J does not have a foreign which tests if a directory exists or not. (Closest we have to that is 1!:44) [2] For some reason getting a listing of the contents of the top level directories on OSX using 1!:0 fails. But 1!:0 works fine on directories which the user owns, so I was proposing that if 1!:0 worked on any directory that it would be safe to presume that the directories which contain it also exist. Henry seemed a bit skeptical of the reliability of that approach. A more direct approach might be something like: 1!:5@< ::0:@;\(<;.2~e.&'/\')ofn In other words: let the create directory command figure out for itself whether or not the directory exists. Thanks, -- Raul On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 11:21 AM, robert therriault <[email protected]> wrote: > Henry, > > Thanks for all the work on the point and click approach to J. > > I recently read this blog post by Dan Meyer, a math teacher, who uses the > analogy of teaching a skill before there is a need to giving the students > aspirin before they have a headache. It is worth a read for anyone looking to > change their paradigm of instruction! > > http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2015/if-math-is-the-aspirin-then-how-do-you-create-the-headache/ > > Also, I have updated jqt via console and made sure all versions of jqt are up > to date in the pac manager, but I still get > > |interface error: opendebscript > | 0:@(1!:5@<^:(0=#@(1!:0)@}:))@;\(<;.2~e.&'/\')ofn > > when I go to step 2 of the 'J by Point and Click 1' lab. Raul mentioned the > same issue early in this thread, but I have not seen a solution proposed. > > I am running > Engine: j803/2014-10-19-11:11:11 > Library: 8.04.05 > Qt IDE: 1.4.2/5.4.2 > Platform: Darwin 32 > Installer: J804 install > InstallPath: /applications/j804 > > Any suggestions? > > Cheers, bob > > On Jul 8, 2015, at 8:00 AM, [email protected] wrote: > >> That's what I was trying to say. Make the topic a problem the user cares >> about solving, so they'll pay attention to the solution. >> >> I would guess that a good rule of thumb would be that YOU want to see a >> solution. You didn't start by saying, "What's something I can do easily in >> J", but with "What's a problem I'd like to solve?". >> >> Henry Rich >> ---- Devon McCormick <[email protected]> wrote: >>> I agree with Jon. A lot of NYCJUG's "Beginner's Regatta" modules are >>> geared toward very basic things like reading file and turning it into a >>> useful array. >>> >>> On Wed, Jul 8, 2015 at 1:56 AM, Jon Hough <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> I am interested in contributing, but am unsure what, if anything, I can >>>> contribute. I'd rather wait to see what others contribute to see what kind >>>> of things you are expecting. >>>> Regarding your points >>>> "The main thing is to choose an interesting topic. We want the user to see >>>> the topic as worthwhile, to think about how they would do it in their >>>> favorite language, and then to see the elegance of the J solution. The >>>> harder the code is, the farther back it will go into the Lab." >>>> In my opinion, keeping examples as concrete as possible is best. e.g. >>>> interfacing with MySQL, a HTTP client, manipulating csv and excel files. >>>> i.e. things that people are likely to want to use in the real world. Things >>>> like "calculating the square of the sum of the first 100 mersenne primes " >>>> or what not, might put people off and and make J seem only suitable for >>>> idle mathematical playing. Just a thought. >>>> >>>>> Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2015 21:40:39 +0000 >>>>> From: [email protected] >>>>> To: [email protected]; [email protected] >>>>> Subject: [Jprogramming] New visual teaching lab for J - contributors >>>> needed >>>>> >>>>> Up till now, to learn J you had to be willing to read a lot of words. >>>> Many modern programmers aren't into that. >>>>> >>>>> With J8.04, there's a new way - a VISUAL way - to learn J. It uses the >>>> J IDE, plus debug, dissect, and the user's browser to give an interactive >>>> environment for exploring J. You can read about this lab at >>>>> >>>>> http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/JbyPointAndClick >>>>> >>>>> (note that you have to update your J8.04 to the level as of right now) >>>>> >>>>> As it stands the lab is just a beginning. Load it & see if you like the >>>> idea. If you do, please contribute a chapter or two. I think about 50 >>>> more chapters might do the trick. >>>>> >>>>> The lab needs material at all levels. Write about a program you find >>>> interesting and your chapter can be inserted into the lab at an appropriate >>>> place. >>>>> >>>>> My hope is that this lab will grow to the point that it can keep a >>>> scalar programmer's interest long enough for them to see that J is a >>>> language fit for daily use. Then we can start an outreach program to >>>> influential codebloggers to get our language the recognition and respect it >>>> deserves. >>>>> >>>>> Henry Rich >>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> 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 >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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
