The Zark library of utility functions

摘要

The primary appeal of APL has always been its productivity. You can develop and maintain computer applications faster with APL than with any other high-level programming language. APL has a number of distinct traits that contribute to this productivity advantage over other languages. However, language productivity is only one side of the programmer productivity triangle. The other two are programmer experience and utility software. The programmer with the most productive language, the most experience, and the best utility software will develop better code, and faster than the programmer who is deficient in any of these three areas. Experienced APL programmers generally score well in the first two areas, but poorly in the third, probably because APL obviates the perceived need for high quality utility software. Programmers in other languages do not have this luxury and so tend to develop and rely upon more extensive and higher quality utility software. Consequently, the productivity advantage of APL programmers over other programmers is not as significant as it can be. ZarkLib, the Zark Library of Utility Functions, is a scheme that attempts to remedy this problem. It is both an extensive collection of APL utility software and a motivational scheme. It guarantees its growth and maintenance by employing a "pyramid" scheme that motivates APL programmers to give until it hurts, and then give again.