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Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

plai.org

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Re: Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

#31
post #4

Great work. Sorry side track totally. as part of my degree is under a Chicago School professor, who I respect but still his work find puzzling. Can this be a counter-example … just like many others open source project. The problem of public good i.e. those unlike fish cannot be eaten. He went on to do work on trademark, copyright and patent. Well copyright is what open source rely upon he would say. But what is the i…

I'm afraid I don't really understand this question. I am interpreting it as, "Why is the author giving it away for free instead of charging money for it". If that is not what you meant to ask, sorry! Anyway, if that is what you meant to ask: Well, I'm the author, so my answer may have some substance (-:. I have a good job and it pays me to have impact. I can have much more impact by giving away the book to people int…

I haven’t read any of your books yet, but I can’t overstate how much I respect your stance on pricing and impact. Thank you!

Re: Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

#32
post #4

Great work. Sorry side track totally. as part of my degree is under a Chicago School professor, who I respect but still his work find puzzling. Can this be a counter-example … just like many others open source project. The problem of public good i.e. those unlike fish cannot be eaten. He went on to do work on trademark, copyright and patent. Well copyright is what open source rely upon he would say. But what is the i…

I'm afraid I don't really understand this question. I am interpreting it as, "Why is the author giving it away for free instead of charging money for it". If that is not what you meant to ask, sorry! Anyway, if that is what you meant to ask: Well, I'm the author, so my answer may have some substance (-:. I have a good job and it pays me to have impact. I can have much more impact by giving away the book to people int…

I’d buy a paper edition if it were available to “support the cause”.

The last programming language book I bought the author got two sales because Amazon didn’t follow the delivery notes where I specifically said don’t leave it on the porch or it will get stolen and one of my sketchy neighbors got a free copy. Almost got a third sale as well but I happened to be home and tracking the delivery driver so managed to get it off my porch before the neighbors saw it.

Re: Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

#33
post #4

Great work. Sorry side track totally. as part of my degree is under a Chicago School professor, who I respect but still his work find puzzling. Can this be a counter-example … just like many others open source project. The problem of public good i.e. those unlike fish cannot be eaten. He went on to do work on trademark, copyright and patent. Well copyright is what open source rely upon he would say. But what is the i…

> The question as normal here: why not say sell it and give the money to something you like, like charity. Giving away the book is a charitable donation to the entire software industry. That is giving his money away to something he likes.

That's a lovely way to put it.

Re: Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

#34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm afraid I don't really understand this question. I am interpreting it as, "Why is the author giving it away for free instead of charging money for it". If that is not what you meant to ask, sorry! Anyway, if that is what you meant to ask: Well, I'm the author, so my answer may have some substance (-:. I have a good job and it pays me to have impact. I can have much more impact by giving away the book to people int…

I’d buy a paper edition if it were available to “support the cause”. The last programming language book I bought the author got two sales because Amazon didn’t follow the delivery notes where I specifically said don’t leave it on the porch or it will get stolen and one of my sketchy neighbors got a free copy. Almost got a third sale as well but I happened to be home and tracking the delivery driver so managed to get…

I can't understand why anyone try to stolen a programming book...

Re: Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, 3rd Ed

#35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does SICP offer that this book does not?

SICP is mainly a book about how to structure systems. It also tells you how languages work, but in far less detail. PLAI (this book) teaches you how languages work. It also tells you a bit about how to structure systems, but that is not its goal. In part that is not a goal because of the existence of books like SICP and, increasingly, DCIC [ https://dcic-world.org/ ].

You are right. I have now binged 2/3 of PLAI. It is really nice in how it draws the landscape of programming languges and how they work. It of course also has an advantage being a newer book, programming languages and their theory have progressed quite a lot since writing of SICP.

Also it is some how pedagogically really nice, very approachable and readable.

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