I just stumbled across the following snippet. Platform independent, constant time (for those with 2048-bit processors, naturally), and only nine characters!
33 b.~ _1 9223372036854775807 The verb (33 b.), not often used in J, is the unsigned shift operator, like C's (<<). When the left operand x is positive, it has the same effect as multiplying y by (2^x). If x is negative and y is positive, it is the same as division by (2^-x) followed by rounding down. However, if x and y are both negative, then y is shifted as an unsigned integer: all of its bits are moved right by (|x), and (|x) zeros are added on the left. If y is _1, then its two's complement representation is all ones. Shifting right by one leaves a number represented by a zero and then all ones--the largest possible positive integer. If you want both the maximum and minimum integers: MIN_INT =: <:- MAX_INT =: 33 b.~ _1 Marshall ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
