I counted "+" and "o." both as two because both have monadic and dyadic forms. Perhaps I should count "o." as 26 (= >:#i:12), though I'm inclined to stick with 2 because the dyadic form covers a closely-related group. I also ignored the many different kinds of numbers though I probably should include them as they are distinct uses of some of the letters.
Even with generous inclusions, I doubt we're pushing 400. On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 12:53 PM, Roger Hui <[email protected]> wrote: > I think you have to do this kind of count > (and comparisons of counts) with care. > For example, do you count + as one or two? > Do you count o. as one or two or 27 (i:12 plus > 1 for the monad)? > > Also, f/ provides two families of functions. > etc. etc. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Devon McCormick <[email protected]> > Date: Thursday, August 4, 2011 8:14 > Subject: [Jprogramming] The size of J > To: J-programming forum <[email protected]>, > [email protected] > > > Hi - > > > > I was reading a section in "Patterns of Software" by Richard P. > > Gabriel in > > which he talks about "language size". This book is one of > > those annoying > > ones in which he seems to argue for many of the strengths of an > > APL but > > never, based on the parts I've read, mentions APL (though he > > must have known > > of it). > > > > In the essay on "Language Size", he talks about how the initial > > implementation of Common Lisp > > "...was relatively small: 772 defined symbols, including > > function names, > > macro names, global variables, and constants." Much of > > this essay builds > > the case for a small (but not too small) language being better > > than a large > > one. He also touches on the usefulness of arrays, in a way. > > > > In any case, here's my count for the size of J7: > > > > Vocabulary page: (*/10 4 3)-6 > > Foreign#: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 > > 13 15 18 128 > > Foreigns: +/3 20 7 7 6 7 11 5 3 42 1 21 5 > > 7 6 > > > > Total: +/114 151 NB. Basic vocabulary symbols + foreigns. > > > > +/114 114 151 NB. monads and dyads - assumes > > all have both forms, but... > > 379 > > _24 NB. not both monadic and dyadic - above letters > > on Vocabulary page... > > _22 NB. not both - letters and numerals > > > > NB. Total: > > +/114 114 151 _24 _22 NB. monads and dyads > > and foreigns - univalents > > 333 > > > > So, 333 semantic tokens in total, by my count. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm > -- Devon McCormick, CFA ^me^ at acm. org is my preferred e-mail ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
