The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Learning APL
Explore the challenges and rewards of learning APL in this 25-minute conference talk from Dyalog '23. Gain insights from Brandon Wilson's perspective as a self-learner and industry developer, delving into the good aspects of entering the APL world, as well as the hurdles faced by intermediate learners. Discover how documentation often assumes prior knowledge, the uniqueness of workspace-first workflows, and the scarcity of resources for applying APL thinking to larger systems. Consider the potential of apprenticeship models in bridging knowledge gaps, and examine the difficulties in mapping array concepts to problem domains. Uncover suggestions for materials that could benefit self-learners, personal pain points in the learning journey, and key takeaways for both newcomers and experienced APL users.