Intro 6. Programs

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6. Programs
A program handed out at a musical evening describes the sequence of musical pieces to be performed. As suggested by its roots gram and pro, a program is something written in advance of the events it prescribes.
Similarly, the fork`+/ % #` of the preceding section is a program that prescribes the computation of the mean of its argument when it is applied, as in the sentence`(+/%#)b`.`` However, we would not normally call the procedure a program until we assign a name to it, as illustrated below:

       mean=: +/ % #
       mean 2 3 4 5 6
    4

       (geomean=: # %: */) 2 3 4 5 6
    3.72792

Since the program`mean` is a new verb, we also refer to a sentence such as`mean=: +/ % #` as verb definition (or definition), and to the resulting verb as a defined verb or function.
Defined verbs can be used in the definition of further verbs in a manner sometimes referred to as structured programming. For example:

       MEAN=: sum % #
       sum=: +/
       MEAN 2 3 4 5 6
    4

Entry of a verb alone (without an argument) displays its definition, and the foreign conjunction (`!:`) can be used to specify the form of the display: boxed, tree, linear, or parens. (The session can also be configured to specify the form of verb display, under the menu item Edit|Configure...|View.) Thus:

       mean
    +/ % #

       9!:3 (2 4 5)
       mean
    +-----+-+-+
    |+-+-+|%|#|
    ||+|/|| | |
    |+-+-+| | |
    +-----+-+-+
      +- / --- +
    --+- %
      +- #
    +/ % #

Exercises

6.1 | Enter`AT=: i. +/ i.` and use expressions such as`AT 5` to determine the behaviour of the program`AT` .
6.2 | Define and use similar function tables for other dyadic functions.
6.3 | Define the programs:
       tab=: +/
       ft=: i. tab i.
       test1=: ft = AT
Then apply`test1` to various integer arguments to test the proposition that`ft` is equivalent to`AT` of Exercise 6.1, and enter`ft` and`AT` alone to display their definitions.
6.4 | Define`aft=: ft f.` and use`test2=: aft = ft` to test their equivalence. Then display their definitions and state the effect of the adverb`f.` . Answer: The adverb`f.` fixes the verb to which it applies, replacing each name used by its definition.
6.5 | Redefine`tab` of Exercise 6.3 by entering`tab=: */` and observe the effects on`ft` and its fixed alternative`aft` .
6.6 | Define`mean=: +/ % #` and state its behaviour when applied to a table, as in`mean t=: (i. !/ i.) 5` . Answer: The result is the average of, not over, the rows of a table argument.
6.7 | Write an expression for the mean of the columns of`t` . Answer:`mean |: t` or`mean"1 t`

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