Origins

The q language derives from the notation devised by Harvard mathematician Kenneth E. Iverson.

Many powerful techniques for programming in q originally appeared in earlier Iversonian languages, which can reward study by q programmers.

Try APL

APL (A Programming Language) was the first language derived from Iverson notation. At this site you can see it with its original elegant symbols.

Jsoftware wiki

J was Iverson’s from-the-ground-up reboot of APL in 1990.

no stinking loops

Stevan Apter’s personal website is a treasure chest for k programmers.

Vector

The journal of the British APL Association has recorded work in the Iversonian languages since 1984.

History

• AKQJ大师
• Kx Systems: A Historical Need for Speed, Datanami, October 2020
• APL Since 1978, Proc. ACM Program. Lang., Vol. 4, No. HOPL, Article 69. June 2020
• Stages of Denial, John Earnest, March 2020
• Vector processing languages: the future of Big Data analytics and real-time business intelligence, Conceptual Origami, 2010
• A conversation with Arthur Whitney, ACM, 2009
• An interview with Arthur Whitney, KX, 2004

Archive

• Abridged q language manual, Arthur Whitney, 2009
• Abridged kdb+ database manual, Arthur Whitney, 2006
• kdb+ database reference manual, Don Orth, 2006
• Q language reference manual, Don Orth, 2006
• Abridged kdb+tick manual, Arthur Whitney, 2005
• Abridged kdb+taq manual, Arthur Whitney, 2005
• kdb+ database and language primer, Dennis Sasha, 2005