APL2 over JANET
Vector 4:4, page 10
Transcribed from the printed issue; not yet reviewed. Read it in the PDF of the issue, page 10
APL2 Available over JANET¶
Sir,
For some time now we have been working on making an APL2 service available to British academics and researchers at little cost to them. We have at last succeeded in this and, as you will see from the information sheet below, such a service is now available out of Warwick University. I am sure that you will agree that this is a big step forward in making APL more available to academics and researchers who have previously been put off by its cost.
Would YOU like to have access to APL2 over JANET
and at little cost to yourself???
GLOSSARY
APL. A Programming Language. The famous algorithmic notation that was designed by Dr. Ken Iverson in the early 1960s, and developed as APL for IBM computers a few years later.
As Ken knew little about computers when he designed the notation, the resultant programming language turned out to be radically different from all other existing languages, which had been designed by "computer people". These differences caused the newly-announced APL to be hated by some computer die-hards, loved by many, while it even had a "cult" following amongst some who claimed, not without reason, that "APL forced the computer to work in the way that humans thought, while other languages forced humans to think in the way the computers worked".
The maturer APL has now taken its rightful place amongst all available programming languages, and is acknowledged to be a superb tool for data manipulation and function definition.
APL2. A Programming Language, version 2. The latest version of APL, now available on IBM mainframes. To the original glittering brainchild of Dr. Iverson has been added a host of new facilities, making APL2 even better than APL. These include:
a. the ability to call external packages such as Fortran programs; graphics routines; SQL and DB2 databases, etc.;
b. error trapping;
c. "arrays of arrays", in which any element of a normal APL multi-dimensional array can now be another multi-dimensional array in its own right.
JANET. Joint Academic NETwork. The computer network that joins all British universities, and many polytechnics and other institutions of further education as well. JANET has recently been connected to EARN (European Academic and Research Network), a "super network" which connects academic networks in most European countries, while EARN in turn is connected to BITNET, the academic network used in North America and Eastern Asia.
Thus, through JANET, a British academic or researcher can communicate with, and send files to, fellow academics and researchers in the rest of the world.
THE PROBLEM
Many British academics and researchers have been keen to try APL2 but have been unable to do so because of the cost involved.
THE SOLUTION
This problem has now been overcome by IBM Academic Programmes Department (an Educational Trust) making APL2 freely available to Warwick University, one of the considerations being that the University then make APL2 freely available to selected academics and researchers over JANET.
This is now available.
If YOU are an academic or researcher who would like to try APL2 over JANET, this is your opportunity. An Open Day was arranged to tell interested academics about the service and what is available on 18th April 1988, at Warwick University, including speakers from the University and IBM, with lunch provided courtesy of IBM. For further information contact Mr. Mike Hunt at Warwick University, see below.
FURTHER INFORMATION SOURCES
APL2. First, the IBM Technical Co-ordinator in your university or polytechnic. Second, your local IBM representative. Third, Paul Barnetson at IBM United Kingdom Ltd., PO Box 41, Northern Road, Portsmouth, Hants. PO6 3AU.
JANET. First, the computing department in your university or polytechnic. Second, Dr. Paul Bryant at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories.
Warwick University. Mr. M. Hunt, Director of the Computer Unit, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL.
IBM's Programme of Academic Donations. Dr. John Axford, IBM United Kingdom Ltd., Sheridan House, 41-43 Jewry Street, Winchester, Hants. SO23 8RZ.
IBM's Products for Academics and Researchers. First, the IBM Technical Co-ordinator in your university or polytechnic. Second, your local IBM representative. Third, Mr. Brian Whitaker, Academic Systems Marketing, IBM United KIngdom Ltd., Unit 125, Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 4BH.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Barnetson
Advisory Academic Systems Specialist
IBM United Kingdom Ltd.
PO Box 41, Northern Road
Portsmouth, Hants. PO6 3AU.