While reading a (now forgotten) comp.lang.lisp post, I saw the publication ACM SIGPLAN Lisp Pointers mentioned. Unfortunately I don’t have access to this part of the digital library (for that you need to be a paying member). Perhaps this is something in to which it is worth looking.
Any time folks are interested in something which [...]
In this post on the PLT discussion list I sleepily wondered how to do something to all elements of a list but the last.
The reasons I asked is because I had used ‘do’ loops in lieu of something better, and from what I can gather, you basically never write ‘do’ loops in Scheme (maybe once [...]
Over the past year or two, I’ve put a sincere effort in to, to put it simply, “learning new things” about programming. It has been a lot of fun, and it has taken some sincere effort. In the process, something interesting happened; I was forced to deal with flaws in how I study and learn. [...]
Analogies are often used to introduce folks to new ideas, introducing them not directly, but through comparison and inference. This seems to work well in all areas, including technical. The risk in using them in technical matters, though, is that person will never move past the analogy and into the realm of accurately understanding the [...]
During my vacation, I skimmed Paul Graham’s book On Lisp. There were many interesting bits in there:
He really tries to “sell the wonder of Lisp”. I’m not sure is possible, though.
“Users prefer double edged swords to blunt ones”
I think that he loves Scheme, but uses CL for practical reasons.
He digs deep into code, heavily visiting [...]
The XO’s default user interface, Sugar, is very interesting. Its goal is to allow for kids to collaborate, and in doing so, enhance their learning. It is a wonderful idea. The only problem is that it leaves them with a computer that has got barely any memory and no swap (XOs haven’t got swap).
I [...]
Until a recent trip, I hadn’t used the XO very hard, or configured it at all. Before heading out, I read Bill’s article and found some real gems that, along with my own preferences, make using the XO a much more pleasurable experience. They follow:
Disable the terrible hot-corner feature
Disable Alt-Tab to the Journal activity
Install the [...]
After using the OLPC XO heavily for the past three weeks for web browsing, pdf reading, and educational game playing (by my 5 year old nephew), I can’t help me get the feeling that the XO was made for its creators, and not for children.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the thing; but how [...]
To paraphrase a quote attributed to Avinash Meetoo’s unnamed professor in the comments section in this wiki article:
A programmer should be studying that which prepares him for his last job; not just his next, or current one.
– Grant Rettke