Postfix, infix, and the nature of syntax
Audience: undergraduate
Tags: computer-scienceinteractivesyntax
What is postfix? How could it be better? Why don't we use it more?
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While it might be easier for computers, you didn’t convince me that it is more concise, just that it was a different way to do it.
The demo under the “postfix is easy” heading is very well done. It goes at a good speed, the way the numbers light up/are bolded is good, and it’s just clean overall.
As an HP-15C user, I don’t think the raw number of key presses is really the main appeal. It might just be that it’s more fun. Instead of directly transcribing infix expressions worked out on paper, you get to play a little game where you figure out how to get through the equation without running out of space on the stack. An easy game, but a game nonetheless.
An article which covers a very niche topic. Quite interesting to think about syntax and the systems we take for granted in mathematics. When we invert these implicit fundamental ideas it can be quite jarring, but in a good way as it forces us to appreciate how and why we do things. Understandable to even a high schooler. I understand why the tick to progress system is used and can even see its benefit at time, but I don’t like it and I initially thought the article was only a few lines long
Good article, but there was no “aha” moment for me. Also it might need to be stressed near the beginning that postfix notation is less human-readable but easy for computers.
I liked the use of checkboxes to pause and ponder, it’s like when YTers suggest pausing the video! As for the article, I feel it could’ve been motivated better and the concepts could be brought in at a more comfortable pace for a new learner. I remember when I first studied postfix notation, it was not obvious to me that it’s possible to write any expression using it! Some intuition would help.
I think this described to me a new system that I didn’t get before and I could after reading this have an understanding of why the alternative system might be useful because it may be easier to compute linearly. Overall, it is quite elegant and I’d think it could also benefit explore different level domains (e.g language) and see what is does there.