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Extending APL2 to include program control structures

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David A. SelbyAuthors Info & Claims

APL '93: Proceedings of the international conference on APL

Pages 209 - 213

https://doi.org/10.1145/166197.166223

Published: 01 September 1993 Publication History

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Abstract

APL2, and APL before it, have always been criticised for not embodying formal program flow control structures. It is proposed that a set of reserved words be added to the APL2 language. This set could include "if", "else", "while", etc. This extension should enhance performance and improve the readability of programs. This improved readability could lead to more maintainable code.

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Cited By

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van Batenburg F(1994)Restriction riddanceACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad10.1145/190468.19031325:1(220-224)Online publication date: 1-Aug-1994
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/190468.190313
van Batenburg F(1994)Restriction riddanceProceedings of the international conference on APL : the language and its applications: the language and its applications10.1145/190271.190313(220-224)Online publication date: 1-Aug-1994
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/190271.190313
Eastwood D(1993)Structuring functions with operatorsACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad10.1145/166198.16620724:1(69-77)Online publication date: 1-Sep-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/166198.166207
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Index Terms

Extending APL2 to include program control structures
1. Software and its engineering
  1. Software notations and tools
    1. General programming languages
      1. Language features
        Control structures
        Procedures, functions and subroutines
      2. Language types

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Reviews

Reviewer: R. Waldo Roth

An intriguing rationale is provided for the introduction of new keywords that expedite more formal control structures in APL2. Formal definitions of the newly proposed keywords, such as if, then, else, do, and while, are included along with well-developed examples of APL2 with and without their use. Having talked with Kenneth Iverson about his hopes and thoughts about APL, I know the suggestions in this paper run contrary to some of Iverson's wisdom and dreams. Nevertheless, the arguments developed here for formalized APL2 control structures are instructive, if not persuasive. I would encourage those interested in this ongoing debate to read this paper and continue the dialogue on the matter with the author at his included e mail address.

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Published In

APL '93: Proceedings of the international conference on APL

September 1993

325 pages

ISBN:0897916123

DOI:10.1145/166197

Editor:
Elena M. Anzalone

ACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad Volume 24, Issue 1
Aug. 1993
316 pages
ISSN:0163-6006
DOI:10.1145/166198
Editor:
Elena M. Anzalone
Issue’s Table of Contents

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 September 1993

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APL93

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SIGAPL

APL93: International Conference on APL

August 15 - 19, 1993

Ontario, Toronto, Canada

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Cited By

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van Batenburg F(1994)Restriction riddanceACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad10.1145/190468.19031325:1(220-224)Online publication date: 1-Aug-1994
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/190468.190313
van Batenburg F(1994)Restriction riddanceProceedings of the international conference on APL : the language and its applications: the language and its applications10.1145/190271.190313(220-224)Online publication date: 1-Aug-1994
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/190271.190313
Eastwood D(1993)Structuring functions with operatorsACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad10.1145/166198.16620724:1(69-77)Online publication date: 1-Sep-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/166198.166207
Eastwood D(1993)Structuring functions with operatorsProceedings of the international conference on APL10.1145/166197.166207(69-77)Online publication date: 1-Sep-1993
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/166197.166207
Beaumont N(1995)Is APL2 a good programming language?ACM SIGAPL APL Quote Quad10.1145/206944.20694625:4(1-10)Online publication date: 8-Jun-1995
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/206944.206946
Beaumont NHowland J(1995)Is APL2 a good programming language?Proceedings of the international conference on Applied programming languages10.1145/206913.206946(1-10)Online publication date: 8-Jun-1995
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/206913.206946

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