Ric Sherlock wrote:
> I've updated the greaterthan. page to show what's possible. I'm not sure
> I like it better than the previous version though.
>
> http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Vocabulary/greaterthan./
Is there some reason that the triple rank indication at the upper right
is so "sacred" from its use in the DoJ that everyone seems to insist on
keeping it in this project? I contend that that's not useful to a
beginner because the rank of arguments are connected with the
monadic/dyadic valence and, therefore, the appropriate rank(s) ought to
be connected with the definition of each valence (as I had suggested in
a previous message).
One way (and I stress that, since there surely are other ways) that
this might be done is to substitute the rank(s) in colored(?) boxes
where the x and y arguments would be positioned, perhaps like this:
monadic: >. [ 0 ]
dyadic: [ 0 ] >. [ 0 ]
The rank(s) might be hotlinked to a definition page explaining the
various possible rank values or, perhaps using Skip Cave's tool tip
approach, the actual meaning/explanation could be linked to each rank
(and which would appear when the mouse pointer hovers over them).
The same tool tip (or page hotlink) approach could be used in perhaps
an even "friendlier" beginner display:
monadic: >. [ y ] >. [ y-arg ]
or
dyadic: [ x ] >. [ y ] [ x-arg ] >. [ y-arg ]
Similar to what Skip Cave noted about not displaying info until needed,
this approach shows the syntax--and rank appears only when needed.
>From my perspective as a newer learner of J, this approach would be far
more helpful than the current triple rank indicator. The latter is
fine once one gets further along in J and might use the DoJ more.
Harvey
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