Graphical linear algebra: from matrices to monoids
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Submission timeline
2007–2026One slot for every year since HN launched. Height is that year's peak points; orange marks a 100+ point or 50+ comment breakout. Select a bar to open its strongest thread.
First comments on top threads
HN comment orderI'll always recommend 3blue1brown's incomparable videos on linear algebra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjBOesZCoqc&list=PLZHQObOWTQ...
It's interesting how some of these diagrams are almost equivalent in the context of encoding computation in interaction nets using symmetric interaction combinators [1]. From the perspective of the lambda calculus for example, the duplication of the addition node in "When Adding met Copying" [2] mirrors exactly the iterative duplication of lambda terms - ie. something like (λx.x x) M! [1]: https://ezb.io/thoughts/interaction_nets/lambda_calculus/202... [2]…
The short version appears to be that the author has managed to replace standard linear algebra notation with an alternative (but mathematically equivalent) graphical notation, which is harder to do computations and write programs in. This submission is the latest in a trend of what I would classify as "math-lite" category theory and Haskell articles that reach the HN front page, which purport to explain something interesting but end up just rehashing standard mathematics in opaque ways. I really wish…
The first top-level comment from each of the four biggest threads, in HN’s own order. Excerpts are shortened; open a comment for full context.
- Breakout years
- 3
- Total points
- 910
- Total comments
- 123
100+ points or 50+ comments
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
reference only — not used in Hall rules or ranking
Every submission
| Date | Title as submitted | By | Points | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-02-16 | Graphical linear algebra: from matrices to monoidsFirst breakout · Best thread | jxub | 317 | 15 |
| 2020-08-18 | Graphical Linear Algebra | guerrilla | 287 | 82 |
| 2021-11-13 | Graphical Linear Algebra | holonomically | 2 | 0 |
| 2025-07-10 | Graphical Linear AlgebraLatest 20+ point return | hyperbrainer | 304 | 26 |