I wrote a piece on GNU APL a little over a year ago. Maybe you'll find it helpful: http://curtisautery.appspot.com/5776042744610816

Dyalog has a pretty good (and long) tutorial [0] that I'm slowly working through. Most of it works in GNU APL.

[0] https://www.dyalog.com/uploads/documents/MasteringDyalogAPL....

Try parsing it. Parenthesize and then replace all arcane symbols with words you understand. It is a beautiful language when it all clicks.

There's a few talks and demo sessions on youtube, they help tremendously to decypher the structure and logic behind APL.

I think this is a good youtube video for someone starting from zero:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DTpQ4Kk2wA

An issue is how to enter the symbols. The way I do it is I created some input methods for Mac and Windows which use at-signs followed by the APL community name for the symbol:

    @times       ×
    @grade       ⍋ 
    @reverse     ⌽
    @domino      ⌹

https://github.com/clarkgrubb/latex-input/tree/master/apl

I've a theory that APL might become increasingly attractive as touchscreen computing matures (part of the theory is that touchscreen computing is not mature).

Support for just about every programming language (e.g. https://www.gnu.org/software/apl/Community.html#EMACSMODE) is one reason why I found learning Emacs to be worth the effort.

>I've a theory that APL might become increasingly attractive as touchscreen computing matures

At best it might become increasingly MARGINALLY more attractive.

I don't see your point.

That while a new keyboard technology like touch surfaces that allows people to have the APL glyphs at their disposal will help increase adoption a little, APL will always remain a niche language.

It's not the "being able to type in the glyphs" that hurts it, as much as the reading them -- and the understanding of its concepts.

as I say below I agreed with the change of interface impacting user perception of apl.

I use a HP48 pocket calculator, that comes with Lisp/Forth (RPL to name it) system. The interface is live interaction with a stack and a bunch of direct screen shortcuts.

I felt it was almost as fun as using emacs with a good lisp configuration. All this with a handful of keys and one level deep keyword folders. I'd bet a dollar that the same thing with an APL system would make people enjoy the language right away.

I did not say what you are arguing over.

"I've a theory that APL might become increasingly attractive as touchscreen computing matures (part of the theory is that touchscreen computing is not mature)."

Ah, everything.

I second this.

The J documentation is pretty great if you want to stick to ASCII.