Pros and cons of MIT Scheme and DrScheme for studying SICP [closed]

Question

What are the pros and cons of using MIT Scheme versus using DrScheme, in the context of trying to go through SICP (presumably simultaneously to watching some / all the MIT 6.001 videos)?

Holsinger

You might dig more here for information on the topic: groups.google.com/group/plt-scheme/… – Sobriquet

Note that PLT Scheme has support specifically for SICP students here: neilvandyke.org/sicp-plt – Semang

It's now called Racket - the IDE is DrRacket racket-lang.org – Stith

Answer 1

I switched from MIT Scheme to DrScheme specifically because I couldn't get a version of MIT that runs on 64-bit Windows. I run DrScheme with the Language "Module" selected to do the SICP exercises.

Armyworm

Thanks. Have you encountered any problem doing that? – Holsinger

@JDelage: No, not yet. I'm only about halfway through the exercises in chapter 1 of SICP, but I've also run some example code from here on SO and from the solutions on Programming Praxis (programmingpraxis.com) with the same settings with no problems. – Armyworm

Bill - That programmingpraxis site seems awesome, thank you. – Holsinger

Answer 2

This answer was originally posted in the question body.

Please feel free to edit below:

MIT Scheme

Pros:

• Specifically built for SICP and MIT 6.001.

Cons:

• (none yet)

DrScheme

Pros:

• Wider-spread usage, more active community.

Cons:

• (none yet)

Kenleigh

Answer 3

DrRacket got me up and running in Scheme with little to no thought. I didn't really need to learn anything new in terms of the tools needed to work the language. Furthermore, you get access to tons of packages for the PLT/Racket environment. I installed Vi mode (http://planet.racket-lang.org/display.ss?package=vi.plt&owner=kazzmir) for DrRacket which made solving the SICP exercises a little less painless.

Here's a guide that spells out setting up DrRacket for SICP. It's really easy. http://www.neilvandyke.org/racket-sicp/

Ventilate