Nial: Difference between revisions

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| unicode support          = no
| unicode support          = no
| released                = 1981
| released                = 1981
| developer                = [[John Gibbons]]
| developer                = [https://github.com/niallang Niallang]
| latest release version  = 7.0 / January 2017
| latest release version  = 7.0 / January 2017
| implementation languages = [[wikipedia:C (programming language)|C]]
| implementation languages = [[wikipedia:C (programming language)|C]]
| source                  = [https://github.com/danlm/QNial7 GitHub]
| source                  = [https://github.com/danlm/QNial7 GitHub]
| platforms                = x86
| platforms                = Packaged for x86 & arm32, should build most anywhere
| operating systems        = Linux, Darwin/OSX, Raspbian, Windows
| operating systems        = Linux, Darwin/OSX, Raspbian, Windows
| license                  = [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GNU GPLv3]]
| license                  = [[wikipedia:GNU_General_Public_License|GNU GPLv3]]
| website                  = [https://www.nial-array-language.org www.nial-array-language.org]
| website                  = [https://www.nial-array-language.org www.nial-array-language.org]
| download                = [https://github.com/danlm/QNial7/tree/master/binaries QNial7/Binaries]
| download                = [https://github.com/danlm/QNial7/tree/master/binaries QNial7/Binaries]
| file ext                = .nial
| file ext                = .ndf, .nlg
| documentation            = [https://www.nial-array-language.org/ndocs Documentation]
| documentation            = [https://www.nial-array-language.org/ndocs Documentation]
| influenced by            = [[Dyalog APL]]
| influenced by            = [[Dyalog APL]]
| run online              = [https://tio.run/##y8tMzPkPBAA Try it online!](may be outdated)
| run online              = [https://tio.run/#Nial Try it online!] (may be outdated)
}}
}}


'''Nial''' is an APL-family language being actively maintained and developed by John Gibbons. It uses the [[nested array model]] and closely follows APL-derived languages semantically, where it differs from tradition is with it's use of atlas<ref>[https://www.nial-array-language.org/ndocs/NialDict2.html#atlas Nial Dictionary - Atlas]</ref>, left to right evaluation, and usage of words for builtins and primitive functions.
'''Nial''' is an APL-family language actively maintained and developed by [[John Gibbons]]. It uses the [[nested array model]] and closely follows APL-derived languages semantically, differing from tradition in its use of atlas,<ref>[https://www.nial-array-language.org/ndocs/NialDict2.html#atlas Nial Dictionary - Atlas]</ref> left-to-right evaluation, and usage of words for builtins and primitive functions.


== History ==
Nial was developed by Mike Jenkins and [[Trenchard More]] in a collaborative research project supported by [[wikipedia:Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University at Kingston]] and [[IBM]] [[wikipedia:Cambridge Scientific Center|Cambridge Scientific Center]] from 1979 to 1982. Jenkins' team at Queen's designed and implemented a portable C-based interpreter, Q'Nial, that was initially released in 1983.
The language combines Trenchard More's theory of [[Nested array theory|nested arrays]] with Mike's ideas on how to build an interactive programming system. The goal was to combine the strengths of APL array-based programming with implementation concepts borrowed from [[wikipedia:LISP|LISP]], structured programming ideas from [[wikipedia:ALGOL|ALGOL]], and functional programming concepts from [[wikipedia:FP (programming language)|FP]]. The interpreter, originally developed for [[wikipedia:Unix|Unix]], was small enough to run on the then newly released IBM PC and portable enough to execute on IBM mainframes computers.
Nial Systems limited licensed the interpreter from Queen's University and marketed it widely. Mike Jenkins continued to refine both the language and its implementation, and in 2006 he released Version 6.3 as an open source project to encourage continued development of Nial.
In 2014 Jenkins started working with John Gibbons to develop a 64-bit version and to add capabilities that Gibbons needed for his work. They decided to target Unix-based platforms and release Q'Nial on GitHub.
A new website for the QNial7 repository with documentation was made in 2021, and is currently undergoing development.<ref>https://github.com/danlm/QNial7</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 20:38, 13 November 2021


Nial is an APL-family language actively maintained and developed by John Gibbons. It uses the nested array model and closely follows APL-derived languages semantically, differing from tradition in its use of atlas,[1] left-to-right evaluation, and usage of words for builtins and primitive functions.

History

Nial was developed by Mike Jenkins and Trenchard More in a collaborative research project supported by Queen's University at Kingston and IBM Cambridge Scientific Center from 1979 to 1982. Jenkins' team at Queen's designed and implemented a portable C-based interpreter, Q'Nial, that was initially released in 1983.

The language combines Trenchard More's theory of nested arrays with Mike's ideas on how to build an interactive programming system. The goal was to combine the strengths of APL array-based programming with implementation concepts borrowed from LISP, structured programming ideas from ALGOL, and functional programming concepts from FP. The interpreter, originally developed for Unix, was small enough to run on the then newly released IBM PC and portable enough to execute on IBM mainframes computers.

Nial Systems limited licensed the interpreter from Queen's University and marketed it widely. Mike Jenkins continued to refine both the language and its implementation, and in 2006 he released Version 6.3 as an open source project to encourage continued development of Nial.

In 2014 Jenkins started working with John Gibbons to develop a 64-bit version and to add capabilities that Gibbons needed for his work. They decided to target Unix-based platforms and release Q'Nial on GitHub.

A new website for the QNial7 repository with documentation was made in 2021, and is currently undergoing development.[2]

References