Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl
Path: watmath!watserv1!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!jtsv16!itcyyz!yrloc!hui
From: hui@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM (Roger Hui)
Subject: Re: Programming in J
Message-ID: <1991Nov7.054517.18980@yrloc.ipsa.reuter.COM>
Organization: Iverson Software Inc.
References: <1991Nov5.212542.20160@apollo.hp.com>
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 91 05:45:17 GMT

Mark Keil writes:

> In cahpter 1, section B there is the sentence:
>  "Do not attempt to read it [the dictionary -keil]
>   as an introduction to the language; to do so might
>   prove as frustrating as reading a full French dictionary
>   to learn french"
>
> I agree with this statement. The catch [22] of this is that
> one has to buy the book [Prog in J] to find this out. As far
> as I can remember this isn't stated in the catalog or in the
> dictionary... So for the rest od you who havn't gotten
> Programming in J yet, I recommend that you get it.
 
There is no Catch-22.  The opening sentence of the third paragraph
in the dictionary says:  "A dictionary should not be read as an
introduction to a language, but should rather be consulted with other
materials such as Appendix B and References 4-5".  Appendix B are
the tutorial frames; reference 4 is "Programming in J"; and reference
5 is "Tangible Math". 
 
Learning J from the dictionary proper could be a challenge.  However,
almost half of the dictionary booklet consists of tutorial frames,
and it is possible to get a good feeling for the language by
studying these tutorial frames (and the material in "Tangible Math").
In other words, the material sent to registered users does make
possible a start on using the language.
 
> Even so, I still feel that I'm missing something. I just can't
> put my finger on it.  ...
>
> I suspect that hearing the "WHY" for many aspects of the language,
> would also help me to understand.
 
On the "why" of APL and J, the dictionary points the reader to references 
1-3 (last sentence, second paragraph).  If you are interested in such issues 
it may be worthwhile to follow up on these references.  References 1-3 are:
 
1. Falkoff, A.D., and K.E. Iverson, The Design of APL,
IBM Journal of Research and Development, 1973 7; and The
Evolution of APL, ACM SIGPLAN Notices, 1978 8.
 
2. Hui, R.K.W., K.E. Iverson, E.E. McDonnell, and A.T. Whitney,
APL\?, APL 90 Conference Proceedings, APL Quote-Quad, Volume 20,
Number 4, 1990 8.
 
3. Iverson, K.E., A Dictionary of APL, ACM APL Quote-Quad,
Volume 18, Number 1, 1987 7.

--------------------------------
Roger Hui, Iverson Software Inc., 33 Major Street, Toronto, Ontario  M5S 2K9
(416) 925 6096; Fax: (416) 488 7559
