So, I've never written apl, and I'm glad I read this comment because that's an excellent point you raise.
To expand a bit, I was thinking about being able to notate computation graphically. That's really what I want. Visual programming has existed and has sucked forever, but those thoughts don't go away that there might be a way to do it, if I just had the missing piece.
I need to sit down with dyalog and find out what I'm missing, it sounds like.
Thanks!
I mainly am interested in apl as a notation, there's a certain lispy zen to a language that unifies notation and code into the same thing.
Maybe there are better handwriting notations to explore for what I'm thinking.
If you've got an Android device you could give MyScript Calculator a go, if writing APL was as easy as writing equations on that app then it would be a lovely experience.
I think one thing to consider would be actually using paper. The terseness means you don't really pay a 'retyping' penalty.