Dan, This is an excellent post that would be a really great addition to the J wiki! Maybe as an answer to the FAQ: Is J easy to read?
> From: Dan Bron > ... > And this is not an academic question. I hit this hurdle all the time > when I'm trying to read someone else's loopy code. For example, > when I'm trying to implemented a J version of some RosettaCode task, I > often find the English of the description a bit ambiguous or > underspecified. Or I'll understand the English but don't feel like > inventing an algorithm to implement it. > ... > I'm sorry if that's not clear. It's a hard feeling to express. The > short story is I often resort to the mathematical description of > the task because it's a clearer, shorter expression of the goal > than any of the actual working programs. > ... I can especially relate to the point you are making here. I also often find it easier to start with a mathematical equation that describes a problem than to try and understand what the code in another language is doing. It's a slightly different take on the Irishman's reply to a request for directions: Well if I wanted to go there, I wouldn't start from here! Ric ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
