Extending Structural Functions to Scalars
Traditionally, the set of monadic reversing or reflecting primitives, Reverse-First (⊖), Transpose (⍉), and Reverse (⌽) apply to entire arrays and are defined as identity functions on scalar arguments. Dyalog v19.0 extends the definitions to provide equivalent reflections on scalars. Character Data We expect that the new transformations will be most useful on characters. For example: (⍉’A’)(⌽’P’)(⊖’L’) […]
Structural vs. Mathematical "Under"
The APL Farm has recently hosted discussions about the proposed under operator, asking “why Dyalog hasn’t implemented it a long time ago”. I claimed that an important reason was that Roger Hui wasn’t a big fan of the proposed extension known as “structural under”. Stefan Kruger then asked me why that was so. Since Roger […]
Announcing the Beta Programme for Dyalog APL Version 18.2
I am very pleased to be able to announce the start of the Beta testing of the next release of Dyalog APL! As explained in June, we decided to delay the release of version 18.1 in order to take a closer look at some of the optimisations that had been implemented in 18.0 (and were […]
Essays on APL Since 1978
In June, Mikhail Barash and Anya Helene Bagge published a collection of essays written by the students of the seminar course INF328B on History of Programming Languages that was given at the University of Bergen (Norway) in the Spring term 2021. As an author, I wish to start by thanking Mikhail and Anya and the […]
Thank You Ian Sharp
On July 16th, one of the most influential founders of what we today refer to as the “array language community” died peacefully, a few months after being diagnosed with lung cancer (link: Toronto Globe and Mail). In 1964, Ian Patrick Sharp formed I.P.Sharp Associates (IPSA), together with six colleagues who were made redundant when Ferranti-Packard […]
The APL Orchard
If you have not already been there, I highly recommend visiting the APL Orchard (apl.chat). Adám Brudzewsky originally started this chat room on Stack Exchange to teach and answer questions, including many successful introductory sessions to people who wanted to learn APL. Since then, it has become an extremely active discussion forum, with a very […]
Dyalog '20 – Recordings Now Available
We are happy to announce that the full set of recordings from Dyalog ’20 online is now available. So if you missed the all or any of the talks, or would like to revisit one of the presentations, head over to https://dyalog.tv/Dyalog20! It was disappointing not to be enjoying Portuguese food and drink with you […]
Warming up to Dyalog ’20 Online with the last Recording from Dyalog ’19!
Three weeks from today, Gitte Christensen and I will be opening the 2020 Dyalog user meeting. Like so many similar gatherings, we are moving online; this year’s meeting will consist of two 4-hour sessions on Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November, running from 14:00 to 18:00 UTC. Our hope (so far confirmed by advance registrations) […]
Dyalog ’19 Videos: Week 10
The release of the final set of videos from the Dyalog ’19 user meeting in Elsinore slipped into 2020, thus providing me with a perfect opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year from all of us at Dyalog! We are wrapping up with recordings from the Prize Ceremony for the 11th annual Problem […]
Dyalog ’19 Videos: Week 9
Depending on which day you decide to watch this recording, you may get a different answer from the one that Richard did as he answered his own question (“Is It Christmas Yet?”) in the first minute of his presentation. Of course, the true purpose of the talk was to show off a potential new system […]
