BAKERJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA (10/16/90)
In the last week I have been experimenting with J version 2.3
from Iverson Software. So far I am impressed. J is remarkably
complete (the documentation indicates what remains to be done).
implementation of "pure" rationalized APL.
A few brief observations.
1) It's amazing how fast you get used to the use of ASCII.
J's ASCII symbols are well chosen. The language has
has a nice look to it and it's easiar to type and
print than convential APL. I appreciate
the APL character set but languages like J and Nial
have convinced me that it is not necessary.
2) As a language J rigorously implements the extended
Iverson notation first discussed in Rationalized
APL back in the early 80's. J has taken a number
of much needed steps. Standard line number based
function definition has been thankfully trashed.
Syntactic constructs that don't fit into the
rational scheme (ie index brackets) have been
eliminated. Verbs (functions) in old Sharp APL that had
inappropriate function ranks have been fixed.
Many new verbs, adverbs and conjunctions have
been added. J is certainly powerful. It's well beyond old
pre-nested array APL's. It's in the same class as
APL2 and Nial.
4) The ISI interpreter written by Roger Hui has not
implemented workspaces. He has adapted an ASCII
script scheme that is certainly sufficient for
for demonsration software. I've been impressed
with the performance of the interpreter and it's
scope. This is the only $24.00 package I now of
that computes complex matrix inverses.
5) Overall ISI's J is an amazing bargin. For $24.00
you get the J interpreter. Iverson's paper (ISI J Dictionary),
and a little booklet called -- Tangible Math.
I have a feeling that J is going to attract
a lot of interest within and, to a lesser degree,
outside of the APL world. Who knows it may even
revitialize this inbreed little corner of computerdom.
John Bakerkevin@argosy.UUCP (Kevin S. Van Horn) (10/17/90)
In article <90289.112513BAKERJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> BAKERJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA writes: > >In the last week I have been experimenting with J version 2.3 >from Iverson Software. So far I am impressed. ... > > 5) Overall ISI's J is an amazing bargin. For $24.00 > you get the J interpreter. Iverson's paper (ISI J Dictionary), > and a little booklet called -- Tangible Math. What machines does ISI's J run on? And what is their address so I can send for it? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kevin S. Van Horn | The means determine the ends. kevin@argosy.maspar.com |
eli@diogenes.gang.umass.edu (Eli Brandt) (11/01/90)
In article <90289.112513BAKERJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA> BAKERJ@QUCDN.QueensU.CA writes: > >In the last week I have been experimenting with J version 2.3 >from Iverson Software. So far I am impressed. J is remarkably >complete (the documentation indicates what remains to be done). >implementation of "pure" rationalized APL. > >A few brief observations. [observations 1-4 culled] I have been playing around with the publicly-available PC J, and I've found it quite interesting. Unfortunately, there is virtually no documentation, so I have not yet figured out how to, say, define a function :-). Performance on various matrix juggling seems surprisingly good. One question: are the features "not yet available" likely to be so soon, and if so, how much will we have to pay for them? > 5) Overall ISI's J is an amazing bargin. For $24.00 > you get the J interpreter. Iverson's paper (ISI J Dictionary), > and a little booklet called -- Tangible Math. > I have a feeling that J is going to attract > a lot of interest within and, to a lesser degree, > outside of the APL world. Who knows it may even > revitialize this inbreed little corner of computerdom. > > > John Baker I figure I'll just shell out the 24 dollars and take my chances. Looks like a pretty good deal. Nice job, ISI, and thanks for breaking from STSC's pricing scheme. Eli
jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu (Jay Maynard) (11/01/90)
So how do us mere mortals get a copy of this wonderful APL interpreter for $24?
--
Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can
jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu | adequately be explained by stupidity.
"With design like this, who needs bugs?" - Boyd Robertsmjab@nanna.think.com (Michael J. A. Berry) (11/02/90)
In article <4266@lib.tmc.edu> jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu (Jay Maynard) writes:
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From: jmaynard@thesis1.hsch.utexas.edu (Jay Maynard)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.apl
Date: 31 Oct 90 23:11:26 GMT
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So how do us mere mortals get a copy of this wonderful APL interpreter for $24?
Iverson Software Inc.
33 Major Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 2K9
or
anonymous FTP from watserv1.waterloo.edu in directory languages/apl/J
I got my mac version (and documentation) by sending a check to Toronto
and my Sun version by FTP from Waterloo. I have put in less than an hour so
far (all on the Sun version since I have one on my desk). It is a lot of
fun! I have found one bug so far.
--
=============================================
Michael J. A. Berry
Internet: mjab@think.com
uucp: {harvard, uunet}!think!mjab
telephone: (617) 876-1111
=============================================