Extending interactive data language with higher-order functions

摘要

The interactive data language (IDL) is a dynamically typed array processing language widely used for the analysis of images and other scientific data. It operates in two basic modes. The first is a command line mode for interactive analysis and visualization of scientific data. The second is as a development platform for end-user applications which process scientific data. This paper details the introduction of higher-order functions to the core IDL. The purpose of these constructs is to increase the productivity of the interactive IDL user. Historically, interactive users of IDL have been scientists and engineers engaged in the exploration of new data. The addition of functional constructs aids these users by allowing them to accomplish, in a few lines of code, what might otherwise require writing a custom function which is then compiled and used. The constructs described were implemented as C language extensions to core IDL. The IDL extensions themselves are available for download at http:// www.ittvis.com/idl/hof/.