APL for Plan9 (apl.pmikkelsen.com)

A new APL implementation called APL9 has been developed for the Plan 9 operating system (specifically 9front) by a programmer who started the project in January 2022. APL9 aims to replicate the functionality of Dyalog APL, incorporating several primitive functions and features such as function definitions (Dfns) and outer products, although certain error guards and complex number support remain absent. Notably, the project is still in development, with some implementations possibly flawed due to limited prior usage. This launch is significant for the AI and machine learning community as it broadens the toolset available for numerical computing in a less conventional operating system like Plan 9. The choice to implement APL in C highlights a trend towards supporting diverse programming environments, promoting greater flexibility in data manipulation and algorithm implementation. Technical differences from Dyalog APL, including altered syntax for several operators, may require users to adjust their existing knowledge of the language, indicating a cultural shift for APL users and adaptation for effective machine learning applications. Installation is straightforward, enhancing accessibility for developers eager to experiment with APL on Plan 9.