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From: kitchel@iuvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: MacScheme Query
Message-ID: <35500003@iuvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 31-Dec-85 13:45:00 EST
Article-I.D.: iuvax.35500003
Posted: Tue Dec 31 13:45:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Jan-86 01:51:31 EST
References: <2@apollo.UUCP>
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Nf-From: iuvax!kitchel    Dec 31 13:45:00 1985


	Although Indiana Univ. does not use Scheme as much as MIT, we
do have it as a required language in several courses.  I have used
MacScheme to write several assignments and been quite pleased with it.
	It runs fast on my Mac and seems to outperform the versions
of the local Scheme running on our VAX 11/780s and VAX 11/785 under
their normal student and faculty loading.  MacScheme is ideal for
anyone wishing to learn Scheme (especially with the Abelson and
Sussman book).  Scheme is a powerful and well-mannered descendant of
Lisp.  At $125 MacScheme is a bargain for what you get:

	1)  A full version of "standard" Scheme that is it follows the
"Revised Revised Report on Scheme" published jointly by Indiana and MIT;

	2)  It includes a good structure editor that allows interactive
editing of symbolic expressions;

	3)  There are good debugging facilities built in;

and 	4)  It makes use of the Mac's features, i.e. windows, the mouse
interface and so on.

	MacScheme also can be used for more than toy problems.  In fact
I have loaned my Mac running MacScheme to a faculty member here to do
large programs for his research.  I also think that there will soon be
MacScheme with full access to the Toolbox.
	Will Clinger (who used to be a professor here) and his friends
are quite sharp.  It looks like they did a great job of implementation.

NOTE:  I have no financial interest in Semantic Microsystems.