NGL (programming language)

NGL (short for aNGeL) is a function-level array programming language featuring an iconical mathematical notation and tuple pattern matching.

NGL was the result of research performed during 2001-2004 by E. Herrera looking for ways to apply function-level programming languages to bioinformatics, large scale multidimensional datawarehouses and data mining algorithms. Initially, the J programming language was used, but soon it was decided to create a new language on top of it, one that would support a different notation style, along with pattern matching and related syntax. NGL compiles to J, but there is also an NGL-to-J J function available at run-time, to provide dynamic behavior.

NGL incorporates the FL programming language's user-defined datatype features that were not implemented in J.

NGL is intended to support and extend Iverson's and Backus' ideas that programming language notation is an important factor in determining the expressive power of the language.