Comments on: A Scheme bookshelf http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/ random thoughts on programming and programming languages Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:05:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: JJ http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-30076 JJ Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:48:10 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-30076 To the dude reluctant about learning a little French, I have this to say: I guess most non-US American programmers are used to having to "learn a little English" to read what they need to read. In particular, I'm also used to reading a little German too, or a little Spanish, or a little whatever it is. In fact, things could be worse. I could be Chinese. Or Indian. Russian, or speak Arabic as my native language. Then I would have a hard time. Since I was born in a country with a Western language, my task is a lot easier. And then American programmers complain they are loosing their jobs to foreigners...You could try not being so lazy. To the dude reluctant about learning a little French, I have this to say: I guess most non-US American programmers are used to having to “learn a little English” to read what they need to read. In particular, I’m also used to reading a little German too, or a little Spanish, or a little whatever it is. In fact, things could be worse. I could be Chinese. Or Indian. Russian, or speak Arabic as my native language. Then I would have a hard time. Since I was born in a country with a Western language, my task is a lot easier.
And then American programmers complain they are loosing their jobs to foreigners…You could try not being so lazy.

]]> By: fire http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-28974 fire Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:39:59 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-28974 may be 'art of the interpreter' will enlighten you too.. google it please. may be ‘art of the interpreter’ will enlighten you too..
google it please.

]]> By: learn to speak french http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-21238 learn to speak french Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:33:20 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-21238 Is the Programming avec Scheme really worth learning French for? Has anyone translated it to English or another language? Is the Programming avec Scheme really worth learning French for? Has anyone translated it to English or another language?

]]> By: JJ http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12167 JJ Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:55:16 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12167 "Programmer Avec Scheme" is a veritable well of knowledge. That you can cram so much advanced material in a single book is a testament to the power of Scheme. There are some other books I would like to mention: - Scheme and the Art of Programming, by George Springer and Daniel P. Firedman (McGraw Hill). Intended as a stepping-stone to SICP, it is a very nice tutorial book. The last chapters go into OOP, mutable states (simulation), extending the language, and control (two chapters on comtinuations). - Exploring Computer Science with Scheme, by Oliver Grillmeyer (Springer). Another introductory programming book. Excelent treatment of recursion. Later chapters discuss data structures in Scheme, implementing a relational database, compilers annd interpreters, operating systems, artififical intelligence. Last chapter is fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic programming. (Note: this is a 101 book.) - Simply Scheme, 2nd ed., by Mathew Right and Brian Harvey (MIT Press). A "prequel" to SICP. Another interesting beginer book. The last part of the book is interesting, because it discusses the implementation of a spreadsheet program (BTW, there was once an open source office, called Siag Office, that was implemented in Scheme - Siag meaning "Scheme in a grid.") It's good that you mentioned the paper on HTDP. In my own experience, HTDP works better than SICP. SICP being deeper and more "philosophical." Of course, SICP is a computer science classic. Oh, you that have not read SICP - you ignorant fools! One book I have not read is Programming and Meta-Programming in Scheme, by Jon Pearce. “Programmer Avec Scheme” is a veritable well of knowledge.
That you can cram so much advanced material in a single book is a testament to the power of Scheme.

There are some other books I would like to mention:

- Scheme and the Art of Programming, by George Springer and Daniel P. Firedman (McGraw Hill).
Intended as a stepping-stone to SICP, it is a very nice tutorial book.
The last chapters go into OOP, mutable states (simulation), extending the language, and control (two chapters on comtinuations).

- Exploring Computer Science with Scheme, by Oliver Grillmeyer (Springer).
Another introductory programming book. Excelent treatment of recursion. Later chapters discuss data structures in Scheme, implementing a relational database, compilers annd interpreters, operating systems, artififical intelligence. Last chapter is fuzzy logic, neural networks and genetic programming. (Note: this is a 101 book.)

- Simply Scheme, 2nd ed., by Mathew Right and Brian Harvey (MIT Press).
A “prequel” to SICP. Another interesting beginer book. The last part of the book is interesting, because it discusses the implementation of a spreadsheet program (BTW, there was once an open source office, called Siag Office, that was implemented in Scheme - Siag meaning “Scheme in a grid.” ;)

It’s good that you mentioned the paper on HTDP. In my own experience, HTDP works better than SICP. SICP being deeper and more “philosophical.” Of course, SICP is a computer science classic. Oh, you that have not read SICP - you ignorant fools!

One book I have not read is Programming and Meta-Programming in Scheme, by Jon Pearce.

]]> By: guildwriter http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12165 guildwriter Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:00:46 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12165 I reccomend Simply Scheme if you want to learn Scheme. I bought it for Berkeley's CS3 class and I reference it occasionally as I do work for 61a. I reccomend Simply Scheme if you want to learn Scheme. I bought it for Berkeley’s CS3 class and I reference it occasionally as I do work for 61a.

]]> By: jao http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12164 jao Thu, 01 Feb 2007 00:11:26 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12164 Jing Qi, i didn't mention Harvey's <a href="http://www.eurologo.org/papers/SimplySchemePreface.html" rel="nofollow">Simply Scheme</a> because i haven't read it, so i haven't got an opinion on it. That said, i've seen some of the videos of his Berkeley course, and i always enjoy his posts on comp.lang.scheme. So, my guess is that it's a pretty good book too :) Jing Qi, i didn’t mention Harvey’s Simply Scheme because i haven’t read it, so i haven’t got an opinion on it. That said, i’ve seen some of the videos of his Berkeley course, and i always enjoy his posts on comp.lang.scheme. So, my guess is that it’s a pretty good book too :)

]]> By: Joshua Volz http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12163 Joshua Volz Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:42:09 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12163 +1 Informative Post about Scheme books I am in the midst of reading both SICP and OnLisp (by Paul Graham). I took the introductory CS class from Brian Harvey at UC Berkeley. All of it was very mind bending, although at the time I didn't realize how much. Only now am I beginning to realize why Lisp is Lisp. On a slightly different topic: how can their be people having this type of Scheme learning experience and simultaneously there be claims that "Lisp is dead." I read more posts on Lisp/Scheme/Haskell from Reddit than on almost any other language. The community seems to be more vibrant than previously thought. +1 Informative Post about Scheme books

I am in the midst of reading both SICP and OnLisp (by Paul Graham). I took the introductory CS class from Brian Harvey at UC Berkeley. All of it was very mind bending, although at the time I didn’t realize how much. Only now am I beginning to realize why Lisp is Lisp.

On a slightly different topic: how can their be people having this type of Scheme learning experience and simultaneously there be claims that “Lisp is dead.” I read more posts on Lisp/Scheme/Haskell from Reddit than on almost any other language. The community seems to be more vibrant than previously thought.

]]> By: veridicus http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12162 veridicus Wed, 31 Jan 2007 18:46:45 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12162 Very good informative post. I think the best general book every programmer should read is Eric Raymond's The Art of Unix Programming. By explaining the architectural and practical choices made by the original Unix programmers every programmer today can learn from their experiences. Very good informative post. I think the best general book every programmer should read is Eric Raymond’s The Art of Unix Programming. By explaining the architectural and practical choices made by the original Unix programmers every programmer today can learn from their experiences.

]]> By: Jing Qi http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12161 Jing Qi Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:37:49 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12161 What about Simply Scheme by Brian Harvey? What about Simply Scheme by Brian Harvey?

]]> By: Quique http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12159 Quique Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:36:27 +0000 http://jaortega.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/a-scheme-bookshelf/#comment-12159 I'm slowly making my way through _How To Design Programs_, and I don't find it as boring as you say. But then you're a seasoned programmer, while I'm a novice. While the Wizard Book might be an excellent book, it seems less suitable for a complete beginner as I am (actually, I'm also being teached Ada95 at University, but I hope that will not damage my brain that much ;-) ). I didn't know about _Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Scheme_. Just downloaded it, I'll take a look at it. Once I'm finished with HTDP, I intend to jump on the Haskell bandwagon (using Hudak's _The Haskell School of Expression_ ?) What do you think? And afterwards... Object-Oriented Software Construction? Accelerated C++? Any advice will be welcome. I’m slowly making my way through _How To Design Programs_, and I don’t find it as boring as you say. But then you’re a seasoned programmer, while I’m a novice.

While the Wizard Book might be an excellent book, it seems less suitable for a complete beginner as I am (actually, I’m also being teached Ada95 at University, but I hope that will not damage my brain that much ;-) ).
I didn’t know about _Concrete Abstractions: An Introduction to Computer Science Using Scheme_. Just downloaded it, I’ll take a look at it.

Once I’m finished with HTDP, I intend to jump on the Haskell bandwagon (using Hudak’s _The Haskell School of Expression_ ?) What do you think?

And afterwards… Object-Oriented Software Construction? Accelerated C++? Any advice will be welcome.

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