Talk:APL syntax and symbols

This article was nominated for deletion on 11 August 2009. The result of the discussion was Withdrawn.

Comment

APL symbols from unicode table: (~~Some~~ many of these aren't in the article.) ⌶⌷⌸⌹⌺⌼⌽⌾⌿⍀⍁⍂⍃⍄⍅⍆⍈⍉⍊⍋⍌⍍⍎⍏⍐⍑⍒⍔⍕⍖⍗⍘⍙⍚⍛⍜⍝⍞⌻⍇⍓⍟⍠⍡⍢⍣⍤⍥⍦⍧⍨⍩⍪⍫⍬⍭⍮⍯⍰⍱⍲⍳⍴⍵⍶⍷⍸⍹⍺⎕ The other ones that aren't in the APL block but are APL symbols:

' apl quote; 0027
¯ apl overbar; 00AF
∘ apl jot; 2218
∣ apl stile; 2223
∼ apl tilde; 223C
⋆ star; 22C6
⌈ upstile; 2308
⌊ downstile; 230A

These are all according to Unicode 5. —porg es_(talk) 10:39, 15 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

⍞ is "quote quad"; the print function [1] ⍡ = snout ⍢ = frog ⍣ = sourpuss ⍤ = hoot ⍥ = holler ⍨ = smirk/frown ⍝ = lamp (comment indicator) [2] —porg es_(talk) 06:39, 31 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"functions"

Can someone who knows APL go through and fix the nomenclature used in the article? I'm told "function" is not the right term. --Cybercobra (talk) 19:28, 13 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I had a look at the raw text because it would be nice to get the operators in there as well, in their own table, bearing in mind that these tables are for the ISO 8485:1989 standard and don't include the ISO/IEC 13751:2001 enhancements. Perhaps another three table could be added for those.

But then I saw the wiki syntax required to build tables! No doubt using the defaults is straightforward enough but ... Sorry, it's not for me. Phil Last (talk) 07:43, 14 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Phil, pressing the

button above the edit window will generate a table framework for you to use. Alternatively, HTML table syntax will also work (though not usually recommended, except in templates), so that might work if you already have some APL table-generating code. Just a thought. --NSH001 (talk) 08:26, 14 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Had a go. There is a new intro, and a sketch the rules of syntax. I'd like to see the result retitled APL syntax and symbols. 5jt (talk) 13:17, 14 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

I have "moved" (renamed) the page as requested, as this is clearly a better title for the page. This should not necessarily be taken as the final name of the page; it can be moved again if a consensus for change emerges in discussion here. --NSH001 (talk) 15:38, 14 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Structure

Cybercobra has provoked me into writing sections on syntax. They could use revision by a grown up (Roger?) but I'm pleased that they display even to a reader unacquainted with APL the source of its brevity. The tables need revision and extension.

A simple and useful organisation might be into Functions, Operators and Miscellaneous. The last should include lamp/comment and diamond/separator.

The tables should distinguish the names of the glyphs from the functions and operators they denote. For example, the glyph ⍴ is called rho and denotes the monadic function shape and the dyadic function reshape.

Glyphs implemented by only some interpreters (eg ⍷ ⍣) should be so annotated, but should appear as Functions or Operators. Glyphs assigned to APL by the Unicode standard but nowhere in use should appear in Miscellaneous. 5jt (talk) 13:17, 14 August 2009 (UTC)[reply]