Lecture 13 Summary, CSE 341, Spring 2004

Intro to Scheme and the DrScheme environment

Note: DrScheme is easy to install and use -- set the language to
PLT->MzScheme (textual) though we won't do too much specific to
MzScheme

Why Scheme?
  * very minimal and regular syntax
  * functional
  * dynamically typed
  * programs as data
  * advanced features: good macros, continuations, etc.

Syntax in 5 minutes
  * atoms and S-expressions 
  * "special forms" just have different evaluation rules
  * Note: parenthesis-bashing has waned after XML

Basic expressions and function definitions

Lots of ways to introduce bindings
  * let, let*, letrec, local (with define)
  * great for understanding the different options and why useful

Lists
  * cons, car, cdr, null?
  * heterogeneous (e.g. ropes there already)

DrScheme notes:
  * generally more beginner friendly than emacs / SML
  * REP-loop automatically restarts when you re-execute