Understanding-j provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the J programming language. It aims to quickly get beginners writing real programs by focusing on practical application and core concepts like arrays, verbs, adverbs, and conjunctions. The tutorial emphasizes J's inherent parallelism and tacit programming style, encouraging users to leverage its power for concise and efficient data manipulation. By working through examples and exercises, readers will develop a foundational understanding of J's unique approach to programming and problem-solving.
The GitHub repository titled "Understanding-j: An introduction to the J programming language that gets to the" aims to provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the J programming language, focusing on its core principles and practical usage. The author posits that existing J tutorials often fall short by either overwhelming beginners with abstract concepts or focusing solely on trivial examples without demonstrating the true power and elegance of J. This repository intends to bridge that gap.
The tutorial begins by introducing the fundamental building blocks of J, namely verbs and nouns. It elaborates on how these elements interact to form expressions and how J's unique syntax facilitates concise and powerful computations. The tutorial emphasizes the array-oriented nature of J and how it allows for operating on entire data collections simultaneously, rather than iterating through individual elements.
The repository delves into the rich set of built-in verbs provided by J, categorizing them and explaining their functionalities with clear and illustrative examples. It covers arithmetic operations, logical operations, data manipulation functions, and higher-order functions that allow for customizing and extending J's capabilities. The tutorial aims to demonstrate the practical applications of J through real-world examples, showcasing how J's conciseness and expressive power can be leveraged for tasks such as data analysis, algorithm implementation, and general problem-solving.
The structure of the tutorial is designed to be progressive, building upon previously introduced concepts and gradually increasing the complexity of the examples. The author strives for clarity and conciseness in their explanations, avoiding jargon and providing ample examples to illustrate each concept. The repository is envisioned as a living document, potentially subject to future additions and refinements based on feedback and further exploration of the J language. The ultimate goal is to empower learners to effectively utilize J for a wide range of computational tasks by providing a solid foundation in its core principles and practical applications. It emphasizes a learn-by-doing approach, encouraging readers to experiment with the examples and explore the language's capabilities.
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https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43882118
HN commenters generally express appreciation for the resource, finding it a more accessible introduction to J than other available materials. Some highlight the tutorial's clear explanations of complex concepts like forks and hooks, while others praise the effective use of diagrams and the focus on practical application rather than just theory. A few users share their own experiences with J, noting its power and conciseness but also acknowledging its steep learning curve. One commenter suggests that the tutorial could benefit from interactive examples, while another points out the lack of discussion regarding J's integrated development environment.
The Hacker News post discussing the "Understanding-j" introduction to the J programming language has a modest number of comments, offering a mix of perspectives on the language and the guide itself.
Several commenters reflect on their past experiences with J, often expressing appreciation for its power and conciseness while acknowledging its steep learning curve. One user describes J as a language they "love to hate," highlighting the challenge of reading code even after writing it. Another commenter recalls their attempt to learn J and APL, finding the latter slightly more approachable due to its more standard keyboard layout. This sentiment is echoed by another user who humorously suggests the need for a specialized keyboard to truly utilize J effectively.
Some comments directly address the linked guide. One commenter appreciates the author's candid admission of J's unconventional nature and the time investment required to master it. The guide's focus on practical application rather than just syntax is also praised. Another user points out that the guide doesn't shy away from demonstrating complex operations early on, potentially overwhelming beginners.
The discussion also touches on the broader context of array-oriented programming and J's relationship to APL. One comment compares and contrasts J and APL, highlighting J's use of ASCII characters and its more developed tacit programming capabilities. The potential benefits of array-oriented programming for certain tasks are acknowledged, but the inherent difficulty of these languages for most programmers is also recognized.
A couple of commenters offer alternative resources for learning J, including the official J language website and NuVoc, a project focused on making array programming more accessible.
Finally, there's a brief thread discussing the practical applications of J, with suggestions ranging from data analysis and financial modeling to code golfing. One commenter humorously suggests that J's primary use case is "writing J interpreters in other languages."
Overall, the comments paint a picture of J as a powerful but challenging language, with the "Understanding-j" guide seen as a potentially valuable resource for those willing to put in the effort. The discussion doesn't offer a definitive conclusion on J's practicality or relevance, but provides a nuanced perspective on its strengths, weaknesses, and place within the broader programming landscape.