[fusiongyro]

If you're referring to the language, it's derived from J, which is derived from APL. There's a whole philosophy underlying this terseness, which is basically but probably inadequately represented as: mathematical notation isn't designed for amateur readability, it's designed as a tool for the mind of the working mathematician, so it doesn't need to be all that approachable to the newcomer.

[daeken]

> it's derived from J, which is derived from APL

Q is derived from K (it's a thin wrapper that uses words instead of sigils for some verbs), which is derived from APL; J is a completely separate lineage, also based on APL.

[tom_b]

Yes! Also, interestingly Arthur Whitney created the initial one page fragment that started Roger Hui on J

http://www.jsoftware.com/jwiki/Essays/Incunabulum

http://keiapl.org/rhui/remember.htm

[fusiongyro]

Brain fart. I was learning J but yes, it's K not J.