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Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

uiua.org

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Re: Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

#3

Post by aarroyoc »

maximilianroos wrote: post #2

This is really cool — great work. J & APL are elegant but not easy to get started with, and difficult to install. This looks like a newer, nicer, more open version. Would be great to see some Advent of Code puzzles in Uiua..

BQN is also easier to get started. It's the only array language I ever tried because of that. Uiua seems to be inspired by BQN but it's also a stack-based language (BQN isn't).

Re: Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

#4

Post by shric »

My recent exposure to array programming languages came via a podcast called The Array Cast[1]

Not affiliated, just recommending. The regular co-hosts appear to each be experienced with various array languages such as J, APL, etc. They don't get deeply technical, but it's a nice introduction, especially on explaining the appeal.

A recent episode had Rob Pike (UTF-8, Go, etc.) on to talk about his array based calculator, Ivy[2]

[1] https://www.arraycast.com/

[2] https://github.com/robpike/ivy

Re: Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

#6

Post by haolez »

shric wrote: post #4

My recent exposure to array programming languages came via a podcast called The Array Cast[1] Not affiliated, just recommending. The regular co-hosts appear to each be experienced with various array languages such as J, APL, etc. They don't get deeply technical, but it's a nice introduction, especially on explaining the appeal. A recent episode had Rob Pike (UTF-8, Go, etc.) on to talk about his array based calculato…

Can array languages be used as general purpose languages in any practical way? Or are they really only strong as calculators?

Re: Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

#8

Post by diogenes4 »

I'm a big fan of stack-based languages conceptually, but they always seem to fall flat when it comes to basic reading comprehension. APL has the same issue, as does J. Factor did improve on this a little bit by eschewing the symbol fetish but it was still very difficult to rapidly scan the code for functionality. I'm not convinced the approach shown here is a good pairing with the human brain.

Re: Uiua: A minimal stack-based, array-based language

#9

Post by 082349872349872 »

diogenes4 wrote: post #8

I'm a big fan of stack-based languages conceptually, but they always seem to fall flat when it comes to basic reading comprehension. APL has the same issue, as does J. Factor did improve on this a little bit by eschewing the symbol fetish but it was still very difficult to rapidly scan the code for functionality. I'm not convinced the approach shown here is a good pairing with the human brain.

If (and I grant, this is a big if) you are used to them, the symbolic nature of APLs allows to discuss code fragments (and even entire* algorithms) using inline elements instead of as separate interspersed blocks.

The difference between scanning algol-style and apl-style code is a little like the difference between scanning history books and maths books: on one hand, one must scan the latter much more slowly (symbol by symbol, not phrase by phrase), but on the other hand, there's much less to scan than in the former.

* Edit: as an example, compare the typical sub-10 character expression of Kadane's algorithm in an array language with the sub-10 line expressions one typically finds online.

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