On the specification of diverse models in APL

Abstract

APL (A Programming Language), developed by Dr. Kenneth Iverson of Harvard in the 1960s, has not been a computer language often associated with the mainstream of the simulation community. An interpreted language with its own symbol set, APL was normally passed over in favor of specialised simulation languages or compiler-based general-purpose programming languages. Four contrasting approaches to modelling and their embodiment in APL are presented, with emphasis on APLs versatility and capacity to specify complex models very concisely and quickly. High-performance interpreters, 16/32 bit microprocessors, dedicated APL engines and parallel processor architecture combine to make APL a more sensible choice for simulation in the 1980s.