[ahmedfromtunis]

I had a similar experience when I first started learning machine learning; thinking in terms of, and manipulating data as, matrices and vectors was not easy at the beginning -- even if the rest of language (Python) was 'classic'.

I guess pushing the envelop with a language like J, where everything is an array, plus the unusual function manipulation, would make it even more alien; it's like touring another planet. At least that's what I felt while reading this.

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That said, it's really boggles me that every time someone tries to explain a new paradigm or idiom, they feel obliged to make it look as superior way of doing things. (Such as in : "J helps us get better at expressing that universal pattern.").

Can't we just express difference just like that; a different new thing. It doesn't have to be better, or worse.

Otherwise, I really enjoyed the article.

[throwaway7645]

The author programs in a lot of languages including Lisp and Smalltalk, so I doubt he feels J is all around superior. You have to admit the syntax is pretty universal (meaning it covers everything) and consistent. With Python you learn a bit of the language/syntax and then how to apply all the functions and methods where they belong.