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Why MIT switched from Scheme to Python (2009)

(www.wisdomandwonder.com)
284 points borski | 2 comments | 25 Jul 25 16:38 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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anthk ◴[25 Jul 25 16:47 UTC] No.44685229[source]▶
Scheme it's far easier to grasp. With SICP you basically rewrite a Scheme within a Scheme. And you teach Calculus to the interpreter to solve further problems.

Online SICP: http://sarabander.github.io/sicp/

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1. morkalork ◴[25 Jul 25 17:21 UTC] No.44685687[source]▶
I fondly remember doing a course in my CS degree that was basically working through SICP as a class, taught my an ancient but very fun and enthusiastic tenured professor. When he retired I think the curriculum was updated to JavaScript (??) or as the new professor called it "scheme in drag". I'm glad to have taken the original course..
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2. jerrycruncher ◴[25 Jul 25 19:36 UTC] No.44687409[source]▶
Honestly, the new professor wasn't too far off. I've often referred to "The Little Schemer" as "the best javascript book that isn't about javascript."