Implementation resources

This page lists some resources for learning how to implement array languages. See also the list of open-source array languages, which links to implementations in a wide variety of styles and languages.

Interpreting

• Let's build a simple interpreter for APL series (currently incomplete) on Mathspp Blog
• Slides and talk by Rob Pike about implementing ivy
• parse commentary in the dfns workspace
• Bunda-Gerth parsing, the paper that the above site is based on
• Parsing and Execution in the J dictionary
• APL In Exposition, from page 54 down

The J Incunabulum is a small implementation of an extremely simple APL, and worth a thorough read.

Compiling

Because traditional APL does not have a context-free grammar, the language must be modified or restricted in some way to allow it to be compiled. K and BQN have context-free grammars, making them immediately suitable for compilation.

• BQN implementation notes
• Aaron Hsu's tree manipulation talks describe a technique used in Co-dfns.
• Compiling APL to JavaScript describes some implementation decisions made in ngn/apl