Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!bellcore!MERLIN.wif.ctt.bellcore.com!attila
From: attila@breeze.bellcore.com
Newsgroups: comp.lang.functional
Subject: functional programming textbooks, implementations, etc -- request
Message-ID: <25045@bellcore.bellcore.com>
Date: 6 Jul 90 18:59:23 GMT
Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com
Reply-To: attila@breeze.bellcore.com
Organization: Bellcore - Wierd Ideas Factory
Lines: 38

> 
> 	I am developing a course on "functional programming" to be
> taught at the beginning graduate/advanced undergraduate level.
> Although the students may have been "exposed" to some Lisp
> programming, their world view is primarily shaped by the imperative
> (Pascal, C, & Ada) paradigm.  In this course I want to focus more on
> "programming" issues than on "programming language" issues.  
> This will not be an AI course or primarily a Lisp language course.
> Your suggestions on the following are solicited:  
> 
> What language would you suggest as "best" for such a course?

This is a subjective issue.  Certain applications lend better to some
languages than others and the size of the application will have a major
impact on the choice of the language also.  

Would it be foolish to suggest using two languages?  It would provide an
interesting comparison.

You may wish to consider the useing Scheme; it is the most likely
candidate to have a lasting educational impact on your charges --at
least there is a glimmer of hope of them using Lisp during their
careers.

> 	Miranda, Scheme, Hope, Standard ML, etc.
> 
> What are appropriate textbooks (given the language choice)?
> 
> Are inexpensive (preferably free!) language implementations and
> supporting software available?
> 

Very high quality Scheme implementation is available from TI.  I believe
it was $99 the last time I checked.  MacScheme is about the same price.
Several other Scheme implementations are available on Unix.


Leslie A. Walko