Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend?

Posted by imad on Thursday August 13, 2009 @01:27PM
from the ask-hn dept.

I want to start learning scheme, but the scheme landscape is dotted with numerous implementations (mit-gnu-scheme, guile, plt-scheme to name a few). Which one is recommended ?

( 8 comments | 11 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by Daemmerung on Thursday August 13, 2009 @02:32PM (#761398)

If you are learning Scheme by reading SICP, you might want to install MIT/GNU Scheme. Otherwise, let me join the bandwagon in endorsing PLT. The PLT camp has its own favored textbook, qv http://www.htdp.org/ .

The just-released game QuantZ (http://www.gamerizon.com/gamerizon-news-and-media.html) was written almost entirely in Gambit Scheme (per https://webmail.iro.umontreal.ca/pipermail/gambit-list/2009-...). Your Scheme factoid for the day.

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by cpach on Thursday August 13, 2009 @05:12PM (#761703)

I think the examples in SICP works fine in any Scheme, at least if it's R5RS-compliant.

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by icey on Thursday August 13, 2009 @01:39PM (#761269)

As pg mentioned, PLT is a good place to start. It's widely used and has an active community. Dr. Scheme is a nice IDE for learning as well.

If you need to compile to C, Chicken and Gambit-C are both pretty well regarded (it has been a little while since I've looked into this specifically so take it with a grain of salt).

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by pg on Thursday August 13, 2009 @01:33PM (#761262)

We like PLT Scheme. (You used it to post this question.)

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by pjonesdotca on Thursday August 13, 2009 @03:13PM (#761489)

I'm going to say that it doesn't really matter but, PLT is probably a great place to start.

If you want to learn Scheme then make sure to use the R5RS setting on PLT. When I write for portability, that's the setting I use.

Most of my writing however, is in PocketScheme for my iPaq.

I've messed a bit with Kawa however that just led me to ordering a copy of 'Programming Clojure' so I can see what the hype is all about.

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by rpr753 on Thursday August 13, 2009 @05:48PM (#761773)

PLT Scheme is FAR AND AWAY the best system to start with Scheme. It is also ONE of the best to take you as far as you like with Scheme as well.

It is possible a different Scheme a particular niche advanced need.

For a traditional Lisp-like REPL with incremental compilation Scheme Larceny and/or Ikarus.

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by cesare on Thursday August 13, 2009 @02:15PM (#761363)

I recommend PLT Scheme too (especially for its IDE).

After you've played with it for some time (and if you're versed in C, of course) I would recommend to grab a lightweight implementation (TinyScheme is my favorite) and study its source.

Happy hacking!

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Re:Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? by stonemetal on Thursday August 13, 2009 @02:22PM (#761377)

I have only ever used PLT which is fairly nice and comes with a number of libraries and tools over and above the Standard, such as objects and a gui lib.

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