Comments on: Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python Software and Innovation Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:13:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Feedback Loops in Software Development – Irrational Exuberance | Agile Development http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-69252 Feedback Loops in Software Development – Irrational Exuberance | Agile Development Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:41:02 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-69252 [...] you believe MIT’s switch from Scheme to Python is a concession or a catastrophe, I don’t think it is a [...] [...] you believe MIT’s switch from Scheme to Python is a concession or a catastrophe, I don’t think it is a [...]

]]> By: RTW Contest Wrap-up « Luke Halliwell’s Weblog http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-43363 RTW Contest Wrap-up « Luke Halliwell’s Weblog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:08:34 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-43363 [...] The interactive question illustrates an awkward truth about programming in general, and perhaps game programming more than most.  In real life, you rarely get to work on problems that are perfectly, mathematically defined; life as a programmer is not like working through a programming textbook.  Problems are vaguely stated, and the APIs you build on are poorly-documented and packed with undefined behaviour.  The difference between our algorithmic and interactive questions illustrates this perfectly.  It reminds me of the way MIT have stopped introducing students to programming with Scheme, and switched to Python-controlled robots – for similar reasons. [...] [...] The interactive question illustrates an awkward truth about programming in general, and perhaps game programming more than most.  In real life, you rarely get to work on problems that are perfectly, mathematically defined; life as a programmer is not like working through a programming textbook.  Problems are vaguely stated, and the APIs you build on are poorly-documented and packed with undefined behaviour.  The difference between our algorithmic and interactive questions illustrates this perfectly.  It reminds me of the way MIT have stopped introducing students to programming with Scheme, and switched to Python-controlled robots – for similar reasons. [...]

]]> By: july http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-40918 july Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:36:14 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-40918 Is phyton harder to learn than scheme? Is phyton harder to learn than scheme?

]]> By: links for 2009-09-30 - paulcarvill.com http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-34106 links for 2009-09-30 - paulcarvill.com Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:06:47 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-34106 [...] Dan Weinreb’s blog » Blog Archive » Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? (tags: python programming development mit) [...] [...] Dan Weinreb’s blog » Blog Archive » Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? (tags: python programming development mit) [...]

]]> By: Assorted links « Algorithmic Game Theory http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-32048 Assorted links « Algorithmic Game Theory Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:42:06 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-32048 [...] to use for CS1 is heating up again.  This round seems to be about moving from Java to Python.  MIT’s switch from scheme to python last year is getting [...] [...] to use for CS1 is heating up again.  This round seems to be about moving from Java to Python.  MIT’s switch from scheme to python last year is getting [...]

]]> By: Controversy in the Glass Palace of Nerds « The Cotton Gin http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-30792 Controversy in the Glass Palace of Nerds « The Cotton Gin Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:45:57 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-30792 [...] Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? [...] [...] Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python? [...]

]]> By: Dan Weinreb http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-28656 Dan Weinreb Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:04:24 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-28656 @Ezekeil: Don't forget that this is only the freshman curriculum. They have another three years to learn a lot more about computer science. I've been reading "Real World Haskell" and I agree that understanding functional programming is somewhere between fascinating and essential knowledge (thanks to my friend Alan Bawden for making it clear to me how valuable it is to learn this). The book is really great and I hope to find time to finish it. @Ezekeil: Don’t forget that this is only the freshman curriculum. They have another three years to learn a lot more about computer science.

I’ve been reading “Real World Haskell” and I agree that understanding functional programming is somewhere between fascinating and essential knowledge (thanks to my friend Alan Bawden for making it clear to me how valuable it is to learn this). The book is really great and I hope to find time to finish it.

]]> By: Suzie http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-28586 Suzie Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:19:02 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-28586 You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.

]]> By: Ezekiel http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-28541 Ezekiel Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:26:13 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-28541 You can understanding programming to transform data or you can understand programming to control physical devices. MIT seems to have switched from one to the other. Both existed 30 years ago and both exist now. Unfortunately, the revival of functional programming seems to see MIT going the opposite direction. Are we heading into a world where we are surrounded by robots? Or, are we going to build upon our growing mathematical understanding of the world (quantum physics, chemistry, symmetry, chaos, new electronic devices, and pure programming like category theory)? Or, both? I think a focus on controlling physical devices is a narrow range of computing applications. I am concerned that way too many programmers already know nothing about functional programming. I would hate to see that grow worse. You can understanding programming to transform data or you can understand programming to control physical devices. MIT seems to have switched from one to the other. Both existed 30 years ago and both exist now. Unfortunately, the revival of functional programming seems to see MIT going the opposite direction. Are we heading into a world where we are surrounded by robots? Or, are we going to build upon our growing mathematical understanding of the world (quantum physics, chemistry, symmetry, chaos, new electronic devices, and pure programming like category theory)? Or, both? I think a focus on controlling physical devices is a narrow range of computing applications. I am concerned that way too many programmers already know nothing about functional programming. I would hate to see that grow worse.

]]> By: Dan Weinreb’s blog » Blog Archive » The “Worse is Better” idea and the future of Lisp http://danweinreb.org/blog/why-did-mit-switch-from-scheme-to-python/comment-page-1#comment-28448 Dan Weinreb’s blog » Blog Archive » The “Worse is Better” idea and the future of Lisp Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:35:39 +0000 http://danweinreb.org/blog/?p=148#comment-28448 [...] names for the articles, in order to attract readers.  Sometimes it backfires.  In my case, I used “Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python?” for an entry whose point was that the switch is not what’s important.  But perhaps since it [...] [...] names for the articles, in order to attract readers.  Sometimes it backfires.  In my case, I used “Why Did M.I.T. Switch from Scheme to Python?” for an entry whose point was that the switch is not what’s important.  But perhaps since it [...]

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