In Praise of APL (1977)

16 days ago

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Teaching computer science to university students is important for understanding algorithms, computer organization, programming languages, and system complexity.
APL is recommended as the best first programming language for computer science courses due to its terse syntax, flexibility, and composability.
APL allows for concise and expressive programming, making it easier to write and test complex programs quickly.
APL's primitive functions and array data structures are powerful and easy to master, facilitating rapid learning and application.
APL is effective for teaching computer organization, allowing students to model computers and develop software like assemblers within a first course.
APL programs are typically much shorter (1/5 to 1/10) than equivalent programs in languages like FORTRAN or BASIC, reducing errors and improving readability.
APL supports structured programming and program verification better than other languages due to its concise syntax and powerful primitives.
APL is more cost-effective than BASIC for teaching, as students can accomplish more in less time with APL.
Despite its advantages, APL is underutilized in universities, partly because many computer scientists are not familiar with it.
APL and LISP are complementary languages, and learning both can significantly enhance a student's programming capabilities.

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