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Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

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Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#141

Post by sn9 »

yumraj wrote: post #102
sn9 wrote: post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How to Design Programs is probably the more appropriate choice: https://htdp.org/2019-02-24/

Thanks. How do SICP and HDP compare? I did a quick glance and HDP seems to use DrRacket, but is the material comparable, with HDP just more appropriate for beginners??

Yes HtDP was designed to be more approachable for a wider audience and doesn't require familiarity with undergraduate freshman math, physics, and electrical engineering. It could be used as an introduction to programming and CS for anyone who's taken middle school algrebra.

For high school students, it's likely to be more appropriate.

That said, if a student expresses an interest in SICP, they shouldn't be dissuaded from tackling it.

They overlap some, but also each have unique lessons from a student would benefit.

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#142

Post by krishna2 »

sriram_malhar wrote: post #92

SICP shows up every few months on HN, and I upvote enthusiastically every single time! I am a self-taught programmer, and survived a long time on C/C++/Java etc. I was smugly confident in my confined space. Then I came across SICP. I discovered a world of closures, streams, object-orientation done using closures, infinite series using streams, lazy evaluation, functional programming, and so much more. It was such a s…

Such an inspiring post. Awesome to hear your story. Did you do it part time or full time? And yes, a +1 to the comment and to the idea that you should write a blog post. Thanks!

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#143

Post by sriram_malhar »

krishna2 wrote: post #142
sriram_malhar wrote: post #92

SICP shows up every few months on HN, and I upvote enthusiastically every single time! I am a self-taught programmer, and survived a long time on C/C++/Java etc. I was smugly confident in my confined space. Then I came across SICP. I discovered a world of closures, streams, object-orientation done using closures, infinite series using streams, lazy evaluation, functional programming, and so much more. It was such a s…

Such an inspiring post. Awesome to hear your story. Did you do it part time or full time? And yes, a +1 to the comment and to the idea that you should write a blog post. Thanks!

Thank you. The PhD was full time. I am not a fan of part-time anything .. either you are doing two sub-par jobs, or you are busting a nut doing two full-time jobs.

In my earlier responses, I haven't credited my wife enough. It is one thing for me to take a chance, but it is altogether a different ball of wax for her to say we are in this adventure together.

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#144

Post by Osiris30 »

sriram_malhar wrote: post #135
bsaul wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your story should be more than a comment on HN. Write a blog about it. How was the first week ? What subject did you have to learn and were the hardest ? etc i think people here probably have hundreds of question.

I've been thinking about starting a blog (in my dotage!) on distributed and concurrent systems. Perhaps I'll include a side-piece on this experience, for people who are considering a PhD in their "adult" years! Thanks for the prod.

Yes please do write a detailed blog post on this.

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#145

Post by dunefox »

Zanni wrote: post #62
methehack wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I totally respect and even admire dissenting opinions, but, on the contrary, this book is magic for me. For me, it connects programming to larger and vital human endeavor. K&R does that for me too, so maybe it's a me thing.

K&R still holds a place for me as one of my favorite programming books. It may not hold up today, especially not for new readers, but at a time when the alternatives were Pascal, Fortran, Basic and Assembly, the C Programming Language was an intoxicating blend of power and elegance. In addition to serving as an introduction to C, K&R was opinionated in a way that I hadn't seen from other programming books to that poi…

Even when the alternative was (Common) Lisp?

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#146

Post by 8458e112e7b2 »

I would like to tackle SICP. I am a programming novice and would like to improve my skills.

The last time I did any kind of math that was more complex then simple operations was a long time ago and math was never my strong subject.

I have pretty much forgotten any kind of algebra, calculus etc I learnt. So assuming I know very little math, what is the best way/book/method to learn algebra/calculus etc to tackle SICP ? I would like to do that before I begin my SICP journey.

Any suggestions appreciated!!

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#147

Post by senorsmile »

nealabq wrote: post #8

The authors also make the book available at MIT press, but not as PDF. Thanks! https://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/sicp/index.html https://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/sicp/full-text/... Other versions, again not as PDF: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13918465 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19049834 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3034587 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10178544

both PDF and epub versions here: https://sicpebook.wordpress.com/ebook/

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#148

Post by raible »

jpmattia wrote: post #105
branweb wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure about the video lectures, but I'm fairly certain the original course was taught to MIT undergrads as an intro to CS and EE. See https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~bh/sicp.html and https://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/sicp/course.htm... . I don't totally disagree with you btw. Pretty sure in that interview with Hal Abelson someone mentioned above, he admitted the book leaned a little heavily on calculu…

> but I'm fairly certain the original course was taught to MIT undergrads as an intro to CS and EE This is correct: The course number was 6.001 and was a requirement in EECS in those days. I took it while SICP was still only notes in 1983, and the notes ended up as a book shortly after.

Actually, the course number back then was 6.031. I only become 6.001 later on.

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#149

Post by tudorpavel »

sriram_malhar wrote: post #135
bsaul wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your story should be more than a comment on HN. Write a blog about it. How was the first week ? What subject did you have to learn and were the hardest ? etc i think people here probably have hundreds of question.

I've been thinking about starting a blog (in my dotage!) on distributed and concurrent systems. Perhaps I'll include a side-piece on this experience, for people who are considering a PhD in their "adult" years! Thanks for the prod.

Me third, I would definitely want to read more about your motivation to pursue a PhD. I guess from where I'm at today I don't see the point in pursuing one, but your comments definitely sparked my curiosity!

Re: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (1996) [pdf]

#150

Post by Scarbutt »

8458e112e7b2 wrote: post #146

I would like to tackle SICP. I am a programming novice and would like to improve my skills. The last time I did any kind of math that was more complex then simple operations was a long time ago and math was never my strong subject. I have pretty much forgotten any kind of algebra, calculus etc I learnt. So assuming I know very little math, what is the best way/book/method to learn algebra/calculus etc to tackle SICP…

https://openstax.org/subjects/math are pretty good.

Start with the Pre-Algebra book, then Algebra and Trigonometry, and then Calculus volumes, the first two volumes are more than enough for SICP.

This can take you two years depending on your time.

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