Handwriting Programs in J
6 months ago
- #programming
- #J-language
- #array-programming
- Handwriting code drafts is slower than typing, especially for languages optimized for IDEs.
- J is an array programming language, a descendant of APL, with unique terminology like verbs (monads and dyads).
- J programs are evaluated right to left and can be written explicitly or tacitly (without referencing operands).
- Tacit verbs in J can be optimized better by the interpreter, leading to faster and more space-efficient code.
- J's syntax is concise but can be hard to read, resembling line noise, yet it allows for complex operations in few characters.
- The author explores using freehand drawing to represent J's binary tree structures for better understanding.
- An example demonstrates converting an explicit verb to a tacit one, showing performance improvements.
- J is efficient for data processing but its syntax may deter team adoption, though the author enjoys its wizard-like feel.