Learning resources: Difference between revisions

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Some of the best resources for somebody new to APL and programming in general are:
Some of the best resources for somebody new to APL and programming in general are:
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'''In text form'''
* APL Wiki's [[simple examples]]
* APL Wiki's [[simple examples]]
* The [https://tryapl.org/?tab=3 Learn tab on TryAPL]
* The [https://tryapl.org/?tab=3 Learn tab on TryAPL]
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* APL a Day: [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-0-introduction/ Introduction], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-1-functions/ Functions], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-2-arrays-values/ Arrays, Values], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-3-arrays-have-shape/ Arrays have Shape]
* APL a Day: [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-0-introduction/ Introduction], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-1-functions/ Functions], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-2-arrays-values/ Arrays, Values], [https://www.sacrideo.us/apl-a-day-3-arrays-have-shape/ Arrays have Shape]
* [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 (video series 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://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]
* [https://old.aplwiki.com/LearnApl/TutorialContents The tutorial from the old APL Wiki]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1955671BD6E21548 APLtrainer tutorials] (video series)
'''Video series'''
* 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]
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1955671BD6E21548 APLtrainer tutorials]
* [https://forums.fast.ai/t/apl-array-programming/97188 Learn APL: Every single glyph!] by Jeremy Howard
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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.
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* APL Wiki's [[Books]]
* APL Wiki's [[Books]]
* APL Wiki's [[Papers]]
* APL Wiki's [[Papers]]
* [[APL Cultivation]] (chat lessons)
* [https://tryapl.org TryAPL online interpreter with lessons]
* [https://tryapl.org TryAPL online interpreter with lessons]
* [https://rikedyp.github.io/APLWorkshop APL Workshop] (self-study course)
* [https://rikedyp.github.io/APLWorkshop APL Workshop] (self-study course)
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* The book [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
* The book [[Mastering Dyalog APL]] by Bernard Legrand
* The book [[Learning APL]] by [[User:Xpqz|Stefan Kruger]]
* The book [[Learning APL]] by [[User:Xpqz|Stefan Kruger]]
* The book [https://archive.org/details/apl-2-at-a-glance-brown-pakin-polivka/ APL2 at a Glance] by [[Jim Brown]], Sandra Pakin, [[Ray Polivka]] (also [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/8cj5JMAxsrCc4Wd#pdfviewer in German])* [https://tutorial.dyalog.com/ Zark tutorial]
* The book [https://archive.org/details/apl-2-at-a-glance-brown-pakin-polivka/ APL2 at a Glance] by [[Jim Brown]], Sandra Pakin, [[Ray Polivka]] (also [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/8cj5JMAxsrCc4Wd#pdfviewer in German])
* [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://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
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== For novice APLers ==
== For novice APLers ==
* [[APL Cultivations]] by [[Adám Brudzewsky]] (edited by [[user:xpqz|Stefan Kruger]])


* APL Wiki's [[advanced examples]]
* APL Wiki's [[advanced examples]]
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* [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/2Wg3HNWHRiYb5K7#pdfviewer APL2 in Depth] by Norman Thomson and [[Ray Polivka]]
* [https://www.blitter.com/nextcloud/index.php/s/2Wg3HNWHRiYb5K7#pdfviewer APL2 in Depth] by Norman Thomson and [[Ray Polivka]]


* [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)
* [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgTqamKi1MS3p-O0QAgjv5vt4NY5OgpiM Learn APL with neural networks] (video series)
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* [[Advent of Code]]: A collection of small programming puzzles.
* [[Advent of Code]]: A collection of small programming puzzles.


* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J0Au6AKGWw&list=PL5ZGZlm-yp_xQfzsBtD66HIMW1M97wCsE] By OsKaR, fun mathematical problems, an introduction to the expressive power of APL.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J0Au6AKGWw&list=PL5ZGZlm-yp_xQfzsBtD66HIMW1M97wCsE Triplets pythagoriciens] by OsKaR: A mathematical problem used as an introduction to the expressive power of APL (video series in French).


== For advanced APLers ==
== For advanced APLers ==
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* 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)|Power operator]], and more)
* 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)|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 functions: <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊢</syntaxhighlight> [[Identity|Same]], [[Right_identity|Right]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊣</syntaxhighlight> [[Identity|Same]], [[Left_identity|Left]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌷</syntaxhighlight> [[Materialise]], [[Squad indexing|Index]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≡</syntaxhighlight> [[Depth]], [[Match]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≢</syntaxhighlight> [[Tally]], [[Not Match]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>≠</syntaxhighlight> [[Nub Sieve]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍸</syntaxhighlight> [[Where]], [[Interval Index]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⊆</syntaxhighlight> [[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]]
* New primitive operators: <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍨</syntaxhighlight> [[Commute]], [[Constant]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>@</syntaxhighlight> [[At]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>∘</syntaxhighlight> [[Bind]], [[Beside]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍤</syntaxhighlight> [[Atop (operator)|Atop]], [[Rank]];  <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍥</syntaxhighlight> [[Over]];  <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍤</syntaxhighlight> [[Rank operator|Rank]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌸</syntaxhighlight> [[Key]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⌺</syntaxhighlight> [[Stencil]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>⍠</syntaxhighlight> [[Variant]]; <syntaxhighlight lang=apl inline>&</syntaxhighlight> [[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)
* 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)

Revision as of 10:27, 27 September 2022

"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 a chat room (APL Farm or APL Orchard) or ask a question on Stack Exchange.

It may be beneficial to learn the APL terminology.

For non-programmers

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

In text form

Video series

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".
  • Triplets pythagoriciens by OsKaR: A mathematical problem used as an introduction to the expressive power of APL (video series in French).

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