Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Which scheme implementation do you recommend?

11 pointsimad8 comments

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 ?

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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.

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

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).

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

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.

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.

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!

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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