A time study in numerical methods programming
Glen B. Alleman, John L. Richardson · 1974
With the digital computer firmly established as a research tool used by the scientist and engineer alike, a careful examination of some of the techniques used to solve the problems faced by the scientific user is warranted. This paper describes a test undertaken to determine the effectiveness of two different programming languages in providing solutions to numerical analysis problems found in scientific investagation. Some of the questions asked were; 1) Can APL compete with a batch processed FORTRAN job in solving common numerical analysis problems? 2) Is it useful to trade execution speed for code density or vice-versa? 3) Is APL an easier language, from the view-point of the novice user, in which to code his problem? 4) Can APL be cost effective in an environment where large “number-crunching” problems are an everyday event.