Programming in J/Windows

ABSTRACT

J has been available as shareware for the last four years. The core language has been largely complete from outset, but it is only comparatively recently that the implementation (at least for the PC) has included features needed for serious application development.The most significant change was the introduction of Windows support in release 6, which for the first time allowed full screen applications to be written in J. Following the release of 6.2, which included many additions to the Windows support and a much better session manager, I started using the Windows version of J in small applications, for which I would normally have used APL. Since then I have switched over to using J for almost all development, except for client work where APL is specifically required. I believe that J is already comparable to commercial APL's for application development and will soon be superior.In this paper, I will describe programming the J/Windows interface, and discuss some practical considerations in using it.

REFERENCES

• 1: Murray Eisenberg , Howard A. Peelle, Confessions of two APL educators learning J, Proceedings of the international conference on APL, p.78-87, August 15-19, 1993, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• 2: Iverson, E. {1993} 'Window Driver Reference Manual' Iverson Software, 1993
• 3: Iverson, K. {1993} 'J Introduction & Dictionary' iverson Software, 1993
• 4: Donald B. McIntyre, Mastering J, Proceedings of the international conference on APL '91, p.264-273, August 04-08, 1991, Palo Alto, California, United States

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: APL

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques

          Nouns: Windows
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: J
      D.3.4 Processors
          Subjects: Interpreters

General Terms:
Algorithms, Human Factors, Languages