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This got me to thinking, I would totally learn APL on a phone app. If the custom keyboard could accommodate all the symbols, the "symbolic compression" vastly l

This got me to thinking, I would totally learn APL on a phone app. If the custom keyboard could accommodate all the symbols, the "symbolic compression" vastly lowers resistance. They don't have to be large programs, either. Just enough to describe basic constructs, and maybe include some "programming pearls," puzzles, or poetry. The app could have ASCII symbols pop up, toast-like, as input is entered. Over time, the mind may associate "/\" with the corresponding single key. A cursory glance for "apl programming" doesn't turn up much, but appropriate artistry and game mechanics could turn a new generation to a form of programming where symbols--not just alphanumerics--are both arcane and wondrous (yet also pragmatic).

pushfoo 3y ago
Replit's mobile app has a decent virtual trackpoint-like cursor widget. If you added an APL keyboard as you suggested, it might be a nice combination if you leave out their AI autocomplete. If you want to get extreme about input method minimalism, you might be able to remap Applejak[1]'s WASD / E input approach to swipe and tap gestures. 1. https://internet-janitor.itch.io/applejak https://internet-janitor.itch.io/applejak (previously discussed here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26188165 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26188165)
- turtleyacht 3y ago
  Interesting, Replit's widget does demonstrate how custom a UI component could be. Applejak's swipe and tap is definitely max minimal. Thank-you for these. Between this and the comments¹ from 082349872349872², there's plenty of inspiration to go on. ¹ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38581769 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38581769 ² https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38587775 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38587775
082349872349872 3y ago
Haven't used it myself, but: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38421095 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38421095
- turtleyacht 3y ago
  Awesome, looks like the link there has many of the symbols to reference. Thank-you.
  - 082349872349872 3y ago
    You're welcome. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1283920.1283935 https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1283920.1283935 has some phrases that may be interesting to start with, but note that this was Iverson's Turing Award lecture, and he uses a somewhat-functional definition style that —as far as I know— was a proposal but never shipped by any commercial APL. Another source of interesting phrases: http://dfns.dyalog.com/sindx.htm http://dfns.dyalog.com/sindx.htm (but note that here they're embedded in Dyalog's functional definition style; I don't have any clue if that site supports it even as an option)

pushfoo 3y ago

Replit's mobile app has a decent virtual trackpoint-like cursor widget. If you added an APL keyboard as you suggested, it might be a nice combination if you leave out their AI autocomplete. If you want to get extreme about input method minimalism, you might be able to remap Applejak[1]'s WASD / E input approach to swipe and tap gestures. 1. https://internet-janitor.itch.io/applejak https://internet-janitor.itch.io/applejak (previously discussed here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26188165 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26188165)

turtleyacht 3y ago
Interesting, Replit's widget does demonstrate how custom a UI component could be. Applejak's swipe and tap is definitely max minimal. Thank-you for these. Between this and the comments¹ from 082349872349872², there's plenty of inspiration to go on. ¹ https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38581769 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38581769 ² https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38587775 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38587775

082349872349872 3y ago

Haven't used it myself, but: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38421095 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38421095

turtleyacht 3y ago
Awesome, looks like the link there has many of the symbols to reference. Thank-you.
- 082349872349872 3y ago
  You're welcome. https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1283920.1283935 https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1283920.1283935 has some phrases that may be interesting to start with, but note that this was Iverson's Turing Award lecture, and he uses a somewhat-functional definition style that —as far as I know— was a proposal but never shipped by any commercial APL. Another source of interesting phrases: http://dfns.dyalog.com/sindx.htm http://dfns.dyalog.com/sindx.htm (but note that here they're embedded in Dyalog's functional definition style; I don't have any clue if that site supports it even as an option)