Learning resources: Difference between revisions

From APL Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(25 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 16: Line 16:
* [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]])
* Découvrez le langage APL: parts [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxq1BUUXobM 1], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-E7BsMg_Qc 2], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csx2Z-GEGPw 3] by Eric Schrafstetter (in French)
* Découvrez le langage APL: parts [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxq1BUUXobM 1], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-E7BsMg_Qc 2], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csx2Z-GEGPw 3] by Eric Schrafstetter (in French)
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
* [https://romilly.github.io/o-x-o/an-introduction.html MENACE in APL] (An early Reinforcement Learning project reimplemented in APL)
* [https://old.aplwiki.com/LearnApl/TutorialContents The tutorial from the old APL Wiki]
</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.


== For non-APL programmers ==
== 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.
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.
Line 34: Line 37:
* [https://tutorial.dyalog.com/ Zark tutorial]
* [https://tutorial.dyalog.com/ Zark tutorial]
* [https://github.com/vendethiel/trying.apl Trying APL]
* [https://github.com/vendethiel/trying.apl Trying APL]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
* [https://github.com/annser/annser Artificial Neural Networks]
* [https://github.com/annser/annser Artificial Neural Networks]
* [https://codeburst.io/fizzbuzz-in-apl-a193d1954b4b FizzBuzz]
* [https://codeburst.io/fizzbuzz-in-apl-a193d1954b4b FizzBuzz]
* [https://wordsandbuttons.online/apl_deserves_its_renaissance_too.html APL deserves its renaissance too] (interactive explanation of [[John Scholes' Conway's Game of Life]])
</div>
</div>
[[Category:Lists]]


== For novice APLers ==
== For novice APLers ==


* [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]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)


If you already have a fair grasp of APL's [[primitive function]]s and [[primitive operator|operators]], you can sharpen your skills by challenging yourself with these:
If you already have a fair grasp of APL's [[primitive function]]s and [[primitive operator|operators]], you can sharpen your skills by challenging yourself with these:
Line 56: Line 62:
* [[APL-eusis]]: A game for honing your ability to "think in APL".
* [[APL-eusis]]: A game for honing your ability to "think in APL".


== For old APLers ==
* [[Advent of Code]]: A collection of small programming puzzles.
In the last decade, several implementations have extended APL:
 
* New primitive functions: <source lang=apl inline>⊢</source> [[Identity|Same]], [[Right_identity|Right]]; <source lang=apl inline>⊣</source> [[Identity|Same]], [[Left_identity|Left]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌷</source> [[Materialise]], [[Squad indexing|Index]]; <source lang=apl inline>≡</source> [[Depth]], [[Match]]; <source lang=apl inline>≢</source> [[Tally]], [[Not Match]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍸</source> [[Where]], [[Interval Index]]; <source lang=apl inline>⊆</source> [[Nest]], [[Partition]]
 
* New primitive operators: <source lang=apl inline>∘</source> [[Bind]], [[Beside]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍤</source> [[Rank operator|Rank]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌸</source> [[Key]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌺</source> [[Stencil]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍠</source> [[Variant]]
 
* Lambdas ([[dfns]]): [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)
 
* [[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]
 
* Other features: [[Keyword]]s; [[Object-oriented programming]];[[namespaces]]


== For advanced APLers ==
== For advanced APLers ==


Here is a list of "how-to"s on various subjects:
Here is a list of "how-to"s on various subjects:
* [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]]
Line 91: Line 88:
* [[WPF XAML Demo]]
* [[WPF XAML Demo]]


{{APL development}}
== 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 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]], and more)
 
* New primitive functions: <source lang=apl inline>⊢</source> [[Identity|Same]], [[Right_identity|Right]]; <source lang=apl inline>⊣</source> [[Identity|Same]], [[Left_identity|Left]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌷</source> [[Materialise]], [[Squad indexing|Index]]; <source lang=apl inline>≡</source> [[Depth]], [[Match]]; <source lang=apl inline>≢</source> [[Tally]], [[Not Match]]; <source lang=apl inline>≠</source> [[Nub Sieve]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍸</source> [[Where]], [[Interval Index]]; <source lang=apl inline>⊆</source> [[Nest]], [[Partition]]
 
* New primitive operators: <source lang=apl inline>⍨</source> [[Commute]], [[Constant]]; <source lang=apl inline>@</source> [[At]]; <source lang=apl inline>∘</source> [[Bind]], [[Beside]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍤</source> [[Atop operator|Atop]], [[Rank]];  <source lang=apl inline>⍥</source> [[Over]];  <source lang=apl inline>⍤</source> [[Rank operator|Rank]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌸</source> [[Key]]; <source lang=apl inline>⌺</source> [[Stencil]]; <source lang=apl inline>⍠</source> [[Variant]]; <source lang=apl inline>&</source> [[Spawn]]
 
* 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)
 
* [[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]]
 
* Other features and concepts: [[Keyword]]s; [[Object-oriented programming]]; [[namespace]]s; [[Total array ordering]]; [[Leading axis theory]]; [[Complex number]]s
 
{{APL development}}[[Category:Lists]][[Category:Resources]]

Revision as of 08:13, 14 February 2021

"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 the APL Orchard chat room or ask a question on Stack Exchange.

For non-programmers

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

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.

For novice APLers

If you already have a fair grasp of APL's primitive functions and operators, you can sharpen your skills by challenging yourself with these:

  • APLcart Quiz: Be challenged to write a function for a given task or to explain what a given function does. (Based on APLcart data.)
  • APL Crosswords: 1 4 5 — Fill in expressions and snippets to fulfil all the clues.
  • 2016 Year Game: Find APL expressions involving exactly the digits 2 0 1 6 in that order to equal the numbers 0 to 100.
  • 2017 Code Golf Challenge: Find the shortest possible APL expression that evaluates 1…52 without using any number or character literals.
  • APL-eusis: A game for honing your ability to "think in APL".

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.


APL development [edit]
Interface SessionTyping glyphs (on Linux) ∙ FontsText editors
Publications IntroductionsLearning resourcesSimple examplesAdvanced examplesMnemonicsISO 8485:1989ISO/IEC 13751:2001A Dictionary of APLCase studiesDocumentation suitesBooksPapersVideosAPL Quote QuadVector journalTerminology (Chinese, German) ∙ Neural networksError trapping with Dyalog APL (in forms)
Sharing code Backwards compatibilityAPLcartAPLTreeAPL-CationDfns workspaceTatinCider
Implementation ResourcesOpen-sourceMagic functionPerformanceAPL hardware
Developers Timeline of corporationsAPL2000DyalogIBMIPSASTSC