Design Patterns vs Anti pattern in APL by Aaron W Hsu at FnConf17

Aaron Hsu analyzes the mental shift required for array programming, comparing idiomatic APL design patterns with common anti-patterns.

APL is a notorious language with a reputation for being "write only" and difficult to learn. Yet, many people consider APL to be their single most productive, advantageous tool that they hope never to give up. In particular, it is generally observed that many computer scientists have a poor opinion of the usability of APL, while many data scientists and domain experts find the language to be exceptionally usable. This session focuses on the experienced programmer's struggle to gain real facility with APL beyond the basic, trivial understanding of its semantics and syntax (which can be taught in a few hours). We will observe this struggle through a "human-centered" experience analysis identifying a set of Pattern/Anti-pattern tensions that are at the heart of the intermediate APL learning "wall." By examining the experience of thinking and working with APL code versus regular code, we can identify principles of APL coding practice that directly oppose the widely taught and embraced best practices of the broader programming community. We'll see not only what these principles are, but also why they survive in APL and how they contribute to the positive development cycle of an experienced APL programmer, instead of the negative impact such practices usually have when writing in other languages. Understanding these practices will provide a focus point for the discussion of programming experience design and the use of concise array language, as well as provide a structure for becoming better able to write, read, and think in APL expert. Conference link: functionalconf.com More details: confengine.com/functional-conf-2017/proposal/4620