Learning resources: Difference between revisions

From APL Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
|{{quote | "I have long been struck by the contrast between the success with which the adventurous learn APL by simply using it, and the frequent failure of lecture courses to communicate the simplicity and applicability of the language."|[[Ken Iverson]]. ''A Working Introduction to APL'', 1981.}}
|{{quote | "I have long been struck by the contrast between the success with which the adventurous learn APL by simply using it, and the frequent failure of lecture courses to communicate the simplicity and applicability of the language."|[[Ken Iverson]]. ''A Working Introduction to APL'', 1981.}}
|}
|}
To facilitate self-study, the resources here are classified by target audience. However, if you get stuck, don't hesitate to request help in a chat room ([[APL Farm]] or [[APL Orchard]]) or [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/ask?tags=apl ask a question on Stack Exchange].
To facilitate self-study, the resources here are classified by target audience. However, if you get stuck, don't hesitate to request help in one of the many [[chat rooms and forums]] or [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/ask?tags=apl ask a question on Stack Exchange].


It may be beneficial to learn the APL [[terminology]].
It may be beneficial to learn the APL [[terminology]].
Line 11: Line 11:
<div style="column-width:40em">
<div style="column-width:40em">
'''Interactive'''
'''Interactive'''
* The [https://tryapl.org/?tab=3 Learn tab on TryAPL]
* The [https://tryapl.org?tab=3 Learn tab on TryAPL]
* The [https://tutorial.dyalog.com Zark APL Tutor]
* The [https://tutorial.dyalog.com Zark APL Tutor]
* The [[APL Challenge]]
'''Books'''
'''Books'''
* [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
* [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
Line 18: Line 19:
* [http://www.microapl.com/apl/learn_apl.html Learning APL with APLX] (also [https://www.microapl.com/apl/LearningAPLwithAPLX.pdf as PDF])
* [http://www.microapl.com/apl/learn_apl.html Learning APL with APLX] (also [https://www.microapl.com/apl/LearningAPLwithAPLX.pdf as PDF])
* [https://romilly.github.io/o-x-o/an-introduction.html MENACE in APL] (early [[wikipedia:reinforcement learning|reinforcement learning]] project)
* [https://romilly.github.io/o-x-o/an-introduction.html MENACE in APL] (early [[wikipedia:reinforcement learning|reinforcement learning]] project)
* [http://robertson.uk.net/Files/APL1&2.pdf A Practical Introduction to APL 1 & 2] (3 & 4 is [[#For novice APLers|for experts]])
* [http://robertson.uk.net/Files/APL1+2.pdf A Practical Introduction to APL 1 & 2] (3 & 4 is [[#For novice APLers|for experts]])
'''Text'''
'''Text'''
* APL Wiki's [[simple examples]]
* APL Wiki's [[simple examples]]
Line 28: Line 29:
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1955671BD6E21548 APLtrainer tutorials]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1955671BD6E21548 APLtrainer tutorials]
* [https://forums.fast.ai/t/apl-array-programming/97188 Learn APL: Every single glyph!] by Jeremy Howard
</div>
</div>
Follow one or a couple of these tutorials through and play around a bit. To learn APL the advice is similar to that for learning other languages: have a goal (something you want to accomplish) and try to do it. Along the way you are sure to come across the pitfalls and gotchas of the language, and with time you may come to understand what APL thinking means.
Follow one or a couple of these tutorials through and play around a bit. To learn APL the advice is similar to that for learning other languages: have a goal (something you want to accomplish) and try to do it. Along the way you are sure to come across the pitfalls and gotchas of the language, and with time you may come to understand what APL thinking means.
Line 40: Line 40:
* [https://tutorial.dyalog.com/ Zark tutorial]
* [https://tutorial.dyalog.com/ Zark tutorial]
* [https://wordsandbuttons.online/apl_deserves_its_renaissance_too.html APL deserves its renaissance too] (on [[John Scholes' Conway's Game of Life]])
* [https://wordsandbuttons.online/apl_deserves_its_renaissance_too.html APL deserves its renaissance too] (on [[John Scholes' Conway's Game of Life]])
* The [[APL Challenge]]
'''Text courses'''
'''Text courses'''
* [https://rikedyp.github.io/APLWorkshop APL Workshop]
* [https://course.dyalog.com APL Course] (Dyalog)
* [https://github.com/nooodl/learnxinyminutes-docs/blob/master/apl.apl Learn X in Y minutes]
* [https://github.com/nooodl/learnxinyminutes-docs/blob/master/apl.apl Learn X in Y minutes]
* Let’s Learn A Programming Language, [https://codeburst.io/lets-learn-a-programming-language-5f374e4abae5 part 1], [https://medium.com/codeburst/lets-learn-a-programming-language-part-2-ce1bd79aef1b part 2], and [https://codeburst.io/fizzbuzz-in-apl-a193d1954b4b FizzBuzz]
* Let’s Learn A Programming Language, [https://codeburst.io/lets-learn-a-programming-language-5f374e4abae5 part 1], [https://medium.com/codeburst/lets-learn-a-programming-language-part-2-ce1bd79aef1b part 2], and [https://codeburst.io/fizzbuzz-in-apl-a193d1954b4b FizzBuzz]
Line 48: Line 49:
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (series)
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (series)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UltnvW83_CQ An Introduction to APL]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UltnvW83_CQ An Introduction to APL]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGpR2ILao5M&list=PLfYUBJiXbdtSgU6S_3l6pX-4hQYKNJZFU fast.ai APL Study Group] (series) by Jeremy Howard
'''Books'''
'''Books'''
* [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
* [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
Line 62: Line 64:
* [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/2Wg3HNWHRiYb5K7#pdfviewer APL2 in Depth] by Norman Thomson and [[Ray Polivka]]
* [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/2Wg3HNWHRiYb5K7#pdfviewer APL2 in Depth] by Norman Thomson and [[Ray Polivka]]
* [http://robertson.uk.net/Files/APL3+4.pdf A Practical Introduction to APL 3 & 4]
* [http://robertson.uk.net/Files/APL3+4.pdf A Practical Introduction to APL 3 & 4]
'''Video series'''
'''Videos'''
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks]  
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (series)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J0Au6AKGWw&list=PL5ZGZlm-yp_xQfzsBtD66HIMW1M97wCsE Triplets pythagoriciens] by OsKaR: A mathematical problem used as an introduction to the expressive power of APL (in French)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J0Au6AKGWw&list=PL5ZGZlm-yp_xQfzsBtD66HIMW1M97wCsE Triplets pythagoriciens] by OsKaR: A mathematical problem used as an introduction to the expressive power of APL (French series)
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WMqhoVc9bY Data Science Puzzle in APL] by yernab: analysis of scenarios from ''[[wiki:Dungeons & Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]''
</div>
</div>
'''Challenges'''
<span id=exercises>'''Exercises'''</span>
* [[Code golf]]: Competition in which participants strive to achieve the shortest possible source code
* [https://open.kattis.com/ Kattis]: Very large collection of problems with automated checking of APL solutions
* APL Monday: Small APL reading exercises by [[Dyalog Ltd]] posted on [https://x.com/hashtag/APLMonday X/Twitter], [https://mastodon.social/tags/APLMonday Mastodon], [https://bsky.app/hashtag/APLMonday BlueSky], [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=aplmonday LinkedIn], [https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/aplmonday/ Instagram], and [https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/aplmonday Facebook]
* [https://www.jsoftware.com/papers/APL_exercises/ APL Exercises] by [[Roger Hui]]
* [https://www.jsoftware.com/papers/APL_exercises/ APL Exercises] by [[Roger Hui]]
* [https://aplcart.info/quiz APLcart Quiz]: Be challenged to write a function for a given task or to explain what a given function does (based on [[APLcart]] data)
* [https://aplcart.info/quiz APLcart Quiz]: Be challenged to write a function for a given task or to explain what a given function does (based on [[APLcart]] data)
Line 72: Line 78:
* [https://www.dyalog.com/2016-year-game.htm 2016 Year Game]: Find APL expressions involving exactly the digits 2 0 1 6 in that order to equal the numbers 0 to 100
* [https://www.dyalog.com/2016-year-game.htm 2016 Year Game]: Find APL expressions involving exactly the digits 2 0 1 6 in that order to equal the numbers 0 to 100
* [https://www.dyalog.com/2017-code-golf-challenge.htm 2017 Code Golf Challenge]: Find the shortest possible APL expression that evaluates 1…52 without using any number or character literals
* [https://www.dyalog.com/2017-code-golf-challenge.htm 2017 Code Golf Challenge]: Find the shortest possible APL expression that evaluates 1…52 without using any number or character literals
* [https://www.dyalog.com/student-competition.htm Previous years' problems] from the [[APL Problem Solving Competition]] (phase I problems are [https://problems.tryapl.org available with automated testing])
* [https://apl.quest APL Quest]: Website with automatic validation of solutions to problems from Phase 1 of past [[APL Problem Solving Competition]]s (see [[APL Quest]])
* [[Advent of Code]]: A collection of small programming puzzles
* [[Advent of Code]]: Advent calendar of small programming puzzles, popular with APL programmers
* [[APL-eusis]]: A game for honing your ability to "think in APL"
* [[APL-eusis]]: A game for honing your ability to "think in APL"


Line 79: Line 85:


Here is a list of "how-to"s on various subjects:
Here is a list of "how-to"s on various subjects:
 
<div style="column-width:40em">
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
* [[Error trapping with Dyalog APL]]
* [[Error trapping with Dyalog APL]]
* [[Error trapping in Dyalog APL forms]]
* [[Error trapping in Dyalog APL forms]]
 
* [https://old.aplwiki.com/CryptographyWithDyalogAndDotNet Cryptography with .Net]
* [[Calling APL from other languages]]
* [[WPF XAML demo]]
 
</div>
* [[Calling other languages from APL]]
 
* [[Performance tuning]]
 
* [[APL on the web]]
 
* [[Parallel computing]]
 
* [[Cryptography]] <span style="background:yellow">← Migrate https://old.aplwiki.com/CryptographyWithDyalogAndDotNet</span>
 
* [[WPF XAML Demo]]


== Haven't used APL in a while? ==
== Haven't used APL in a while? ==
Those who learned APL "in the early days" should note that several implementations have made significant extensions to the language and system in the last decade or two.
Those who learned APL "in the early days" should note that several implementations have made significant extensions to the language and system in the last decade or two.
 
<div style="column-width:40em">
* General video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN1l1WiYc_o Dyalog APL for other APL users] ([[assignment]], [[control structure]]s, [[namespace]]s, [[migration level]], [[Bind]], [[user-defined operator]]s, [[dfn]]s, [[Error trapping with Dyalog APL|error trapping]], [[shyness]], [[namelist]]s, [[GCD]], [[LCM]], [[Power (operator)|Power operator]], and more)
'''General'''
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN1l1WiYc_o Dyalog APL for other APL users] (video)
* New primitive functions: <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊢</syntaxhighlight> [[Identity|Same]], [[Right_identity|Right]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊣</syntaxhighlight> [[Identity|Same]], [[Left_identity|Left]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌷</syntaxhighlight> [[Materialise]], [[Squad indexing|Index]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≡</syntaxhighlight> [[Depth]], [[Match]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≢</syntaxhighlight> [[Tally]], [[Not Match]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≠</syntaxhighlight> [[Nub Sieve]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍸</syntaxhighlight> [[Where]], [[Interval Index]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊆</syntaxhighlight> [[Nest]], [[Partition]]
* [[Assignment]]
 
* [[Control structure]]s
* New primitive operators: <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍨</syntaxhighlight> [[Commute]], [[Constant]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>@</syntaxhighlight> [[At]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>∘</syntaxhighlight> [[Bind]], [[Beside]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍤</syntaxhighlight> [[Atop (operator)|Atop]], [[Rank]];  <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍥</syntaxhighlight> [[Over]];  <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍤</syntaxhighlight> [[Rank operator|Rank]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌸</syntaxhighlight> [[Key]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌺</syntaxhighlight> [[Stencil]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍠</syntaxhighlight> [[Variant]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>&</syntaxhighlight> [[Spawn]]
* [[Namespace]]s
 
* [[Migration level]]
* Lambdas ([[dfn]]s): [https://help.dyalog.com/16.0/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/Dynamic%20Functions%20and%20Operators.htm Intro]; [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/MultiLine%20Dynamic%20Functions.htm Details]; [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/Dynamic%20Operators.htm Operators]; [https://dfns.dyalog.com/n_contents.htm The dfns workspace] (collection of categorized utilities with extensive comments and notes)
* [[User-defined operator]]s
 
* [[Error trapping with Dyalog APL|Error trapping]]
* [[Tacit programming]]: [[Dyalog APL]] documentation: [https://help.dyalog.com/16.0/Content/RelNotes14.0/Function%20Trains.htm Intro]; [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Introduction/Trains.htm Details]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt4lMZbn-so short video]; [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2LqqBosvY0 long video]; [https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/52405/conversation/lesson-23-transcribing-to-and-reading-trains APL Cultivation lesson]; [[Function composition]]
* [[Shyness]]
 
* [[Namelist]]s
* Other features and concepts: [[Keyword]]s; [[Object-oriented programming]]; [[namespace]]s; [[Total array ordering]]; [[Leading axis theory]]; [[Complex number]]s
* [[Keyword]]s
 
* [[Object-oriented programming]]
{{APL development}}[[Category:Lists]][[Category:Resources]]
* [[Total array ordering]]
* [[Leading axis theory]]
* [[Complex number]]s
'''New primitive functions'''
* [[GCD]] and [[LCM]]
* [[Identity|Same]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊢</syntaxhighlight> and <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊣</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Materialise]] and [[Squad indexing|Index]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌷</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Depth]] and [[Match]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≡</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Tally]] and [[Not Match]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≢</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Nub Sieve]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≠</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Where]] and [[Interval Index]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍸</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Nest]] and [[Partition]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊆</syntaxhighlight>)
'''New primitive operators'''
* [[Power (operator)|Power operator]]
* [[Commute]] and [[Constant]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍨</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[At]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>@</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Bind]] and [[Beside]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>∘</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Atop (operator)|Atop]] and [[Rank]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍤</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Over]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍥</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Key]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌸</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Stencil]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌺</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Variant]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍠</syntaxhighlight>)
* [[Spawn]] (<syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>&</syntaxhighlight>)
'''Lambdas ([[dfn]]s)'''
* [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/Dynamic%20Functions%20and%20Operators.htm Intro]
* [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/MultiLine%20Dynamic%20Functions.htm Details]
* [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Defined%20Functions%20and%20Operators/DynamicFunctions/Dynamic%20Operators.htm Operators]
* [https://dfns.dyalog.com/n_contents.htm The dfns workspace] (collection of categorized utilities with extensive comments and notes)
'''[[Tacit programming]]'''
* [https://help.dyalog.com/16.0/Content/RelNotes14.0/Function%20Trains.htm Intro]
* [https://help.dyalog.com/latest/Content/Language/Introduction/Trains.htm Details]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt4lMZbn-so Short video]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2LqqBosvY0 Long video]
* [https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/52405/conversation/lesson-23-transcribing-to-and-reading-trains APL Cultivation lesson]
* [[Function composition]]
</div>
{{APL development}}[[Category:Lists of resources]][[Category:Resources]]

Latest revision as of 14:10, 5 November 2024

"I have long been struck by the contrast between the success with which the adventurous learn APL by simply using it, and the frequent failure of lecture courses to communicate the simplicity and applicability of the language."

Ken Iverson. A Working Introduction to APL, 1981.

To facilitate self-study, the resources here are classified by target audience. However, if you get stuck, don't hesitate to request help in one of the many chat rooms and forums or ask a question on Stack Exchange.

It may be beneficial to learn the APL terminology.

For non-programmers

Some of the best resources for somebody new to APL and programming in general are:

Interactive

Books

Text

Video series

Follow one or a couple of these tutorials through and play around a bit. To learn APL the advice is similar to that for learning other languages: have a goal (something you want to accomplish) and try to do it. Along the way you are sure to come across the pitfalls and gotchas of the language, and with time you may come to understand what APL thinking means.

For programmers unfamiliar with APL

This is a list of tutorials and other resources of interest to someone who knows about programming or is familiar with another programming language, but wants to learn more about APL. See also APL Wiki's lists of advanced examples, books, and papers. "Trying APL" has examples for all primitives.

Interactive

Text courses

Video

Books

For novice APLers

Besides for APL Wiki's advanced examples, you can hone your APL skill with these materials.

Books

Videos

Exercises

For advanced APLers

Here is a list of "how-to"s on various subjects:

Haven't used APL in a while?

Those who learned APL "in the early days" should note that several implementations have made significant extensions to the language and system in the last decade or two.

General

New primitive functions

New primitive operators

Lambdas (dfns)

Tacit programming

APL development [edit]
Interface Session ∙ Typing glyphs (on Linux) ∙ Fonts ∙ Text editors
Publications Introductions ∙ Learning resources ∙ Simple examples ∙ Advanced examples ∙ Mnemonics ∙ ISO 8485:1989 ∙ ISO/IEC 13751:2001 ∙ A Dictionary of APL ∙ Case studies ∙ Documentation suites ∙ Books ∙ Papers ∙ Videos ∙ APL Quote Quad ∙ Vector journal ∙ Terminology (Chinese, German) ∙ Neural networks ∙ Error trapping with Dyalog APL (in forms)
Sharing code Backwards compatibility ∙ APLcart ∙ APLTree ∙ APL-Cation ∙ Dfns workspace ∙ Tatin ∙ Cider
Implementation Resources ∙ Open-source ∙ Magic function ∙ Performance ∙ APL hardware
Developers Timeline of corporations ∙ APL2000 ∙ Dyalog ∙ IBM ∙ IPSA ∙ STSC
Retrieved from ‘https://aplwiki.com/index.php?title=Learning_resources&oldid=11679’