I-Beam: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "{{Built-in|I-Beam|⌶}} is a primitive monadic operator that takes a numeric code as it operand and derives an ambivalent function which provides a range of ad-hoc operations. This range covers non-primitive functions - for example: experimental features, interpreter-level control, access to the environment, and information about APL itself. == Mnemonics == In general, I-Beam's numeric operand isn't intended t...")
 
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{{Built-in|I-Beam|⌶}} is a [[primitive operator|primitive]] [[monadic operator]] that takes a numeric code as it [[operand]] and [[derived function|derives]] an [[ambivalent]] function which provides a range of ad-hoc operations. This range covers non-[[primitive function]]s - for example: experimental features, interpreter-level control, access to the environment, and information about APL itself.
{{Built-in|I-Beam|⌶}} is a [[primitive operator|primitive]] [[ambivalent function]] or [[monadic operator]] that takes a numeric code as an [[argument]]/[[operand]] and provides a range of ad-hoc operations. This range covers non-[[primitive function]]s, for example experimental features, interpreter-level control, access to the environment, and information about APL itself.


== History ==
I-Beam was introduced in [[APL\360]] as an [[ambivalent function]] for implementers to execute [[wikipedia:IBM System/360|IBM System/360]] (''I-Beam'' being pronounced very similarly to ''IBM'') instructions from program control. The convenience of this lead to I-Beam becoming directly available for use by anyone.<ref>[https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/585923.585925 The Design of APL]</ref> However, modern IBM-derived APLs replace all I-Beams with [[quad name]]s. For example, <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>5⌶</syntaxhighlight> became <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⎕DL</syntaxhighlight> ([[Delay]]) while changing time unit from [[wikipedia:jiffy|jiffies]] of 1⁄300<sup>th</sup> of a second to a whole second.
Later, after it became common to use arrays as operands, [[Dyalog APL 12.1]] began using the [[glyph]] as an operator where the operand selects functionality. It is used for testing experimental features, some of which may eventually become primitives or quad names. For example, <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>819⌶</syntaxhighlight> became <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⎕C</syntaxhighlight> ([[Case Convert]]), while introducing distinction between case folding (for case insensitive comparisons) and case mapping (for human presentation forms).


== Mnemonics ==
== Mnemonics ==
In general, I-Beam's numeric operand isn't intended to be easily recalled. But some are given meaningful names.
In general, I-Beam's numeric operand isn't intended to be easily recalled. But some are given meaningful names.


One method is to devise a name from the [[wikipedia:Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M<ref>[https://www.dyalog.com/blog/2016/06/i-beam-mnemonics/ I-Beam Mnemonics]</ref>
One method is to devise a name from the [[wikipedia:Roman numerals|Roman numeral]] letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M:<ref>[https://www.dyalog.com/blog/2016/06/i-beam-mnemonics/ I-Beam Mnemonics]</ref>


{|class=wikitable
{|class=wikitable
! I-Beam !! Numeral
! I-Beam !! Numeral
|-
| Colour Coding || CC (200)
|-
| Colour Coding Information || CCI (201)
|-
|-
| Called Monadically || CM (900)
| Called Monadically || CM (900)
Line 14: Line 22:
| Line Count || LC (50100)
| Line Count || LC (50100)
|}
|}
== External links ==
* [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/#Language/Primitive%20Operators/I%20Beam.htm Dyalog documentation]


== References ==
== References ==
<references/>
<references/>
{{APL built-ins}}[[Category:Primitive operators]]
{{APL built-ins}}[[Category:Primitive operators]]

Latest revision as of 15:35, 17 March 2024

⌶

I-Beam (⌶) is a primitive ambivalent function or monadic operator that takes a numeric code as an argument/operand and provides a range of ad-hoc operations. This range covers non-primitive functions, for example experimental features, interpreter-level control, access to the environment, and information about APL itself.

History

I-Beam was introduced in APL\360 as an ambivalent function for implementers to execute IBM System/360 (I-Beam being pronounced very similarly to IBM) instructions from program control. The convenience of this lead to I-Beam becoming directly available for use by anyone.[1] However, modern IBM-derived APLs replace all I-Beams with quad names. For example, 5⌶ became ⎕DL (Delay) while changing time unit from jiffies of 1⁄300th of a second to a whole second.

Later, after it became common to use arrays as operands, Dyalog APL 12.1 began using the glyph as an operator where the operand selects functionality. It is used for testing experimental features, some of which may eventually become primitives or quad names. For example, 819⌶ became ⎕C (Case Convert), while introducing distinction between case folding (for case insensitive comparisons) and case mapping (for human presentation forms).

Mnemonics

In general, I-Beam's numeric operand isn't intended to be easily recalled. But some are given meaningful names.

One method is to devise a name from the Roman numeral letters I, V, X, L, C, D, and M:[2]

I-Beam Numeral
Colour Coding CC (200)
Colour Coding Information CCI (201)
Called Monadically CM (900)
Line Count LC (50100)

External links

References

  1. ↑ The Design of APL
  2. ↑ I-Beam Mnemonics
APL built-ins [edit]
Primitives (Timeline) Functions
Scalar
Monadic Conjugate ∙ Negate ∙ Signum ∙ Reciprocal ∙ Magnitude ∙ Exponential ∙ Natural Logarithm ∙ Floor ∙ Ceiling ∙ Factorial ∙ Not ∙ Pi Times ∙ Roll ∙ Type ∙ Imaginary ∙ Square Root ∙ Round
Dyadic Add ∙ Subtract ∙ Times ∙ Divide ∙ Residue ∙ Power ∙ Logarithm ∙ Minimum ∙ Maximum ∙ Binomial ∙ Comparison functions ∙ Boolean functions (And, Or, Nand, Nor) ∙ GCD ∙ LCM ∙ Circular ∙ Complex ∙ Root
Non-Scalar
Structural Shape ∙ Reshape ∙ Tally ∙ Depth ∙ Ravel ∙ Enlist ∙ Table ∙ Catenate ∙ Reverse ∙ Rotate ∙ Transpose ∙ Raze ∙ Mix ∙ Split ∙ Enclose ∙ Nest ∙ Cut (K) ∙ Pair ∙ Link ∙ Partitioned Enclose ∙ Partition
Selection First ∙ Pick ∙ Take ∙ Drop ∙ Unique ∙ Identity ∙ Stop ∙ Select ∙ Replicate ∙ Expand ∙ Set functions (Intersection ∙ Union ∙ Without) ∙ Bracket indexing ∙ Index ∙ Cartesian Product ∙ Sort
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Operators Monadic Each ∙ Commute ∙ Constant ∙ Replicate ∙ Expand ∙ Reduce ∙ Windowed Reduce ∙ Scan ∙ Outer Product ∙ Key ∙ I-Beam ∙ Spawn ∙ Function axis ∙ Identity (Null, Ident)
Dyadic Bind ∙ Compositions (Compose, Reverse Compose, Beside, Withe, Atop, Over) ∙ Inner Product ∙ Determinant ∙ Power ∙ At ∙ Under ∙ Rank ∙ Depth ∙ Variant ∙ Stencil ∙ Cut ∙ Direct definition (operator) ∙ Identity (Lev, Dex)
Quad names Index origin ∙ Comparison tolerance ∙ Migration level ∙ Atomic vector
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