Ian Gorse asked: > Why didn't Chris use p=: 1 = [EMAIL PROTECTED]: > Which produces the same results.
Tracy responded: > No, actually. It is because the two functions are > not synonymous. I believe Ian meant "Why did Chris write (#~ 1: = [EMAIL PROTECTED]:) rather than the equivalent-but-shorter (#~ 1 = [EMAIL PROTECTED]:) ?". The answer is because the NVV (noun verb verb) syntax was introduced circa 2005 [1,2] and Chris wrote "Elegant Programming" circa 1995 [3]. Today, we could simply write (#~ 1&p:) (the dyad p: was introduced circa 1996 [4]). Of course, that verb would've made a less interesting paper. -Dan [1] http://www.jsoftware.com/help/release/nvv.htm [2] http://keiapl.info/anec#nvv [3] http://www.vector.org.uk/archive/v122/ [4] http://www.jsoftware.com/help/release/pco2.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
