'''''Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs''''' ('''''SICP''''') is a textbook aiming to teach the principles of computer programming, such as [[abstraction (computer science)|abstraction]] in programming, [[metalinguistic abstraction]], [[recursion]], [[interpreter (computing)|interpreters]], and [[modular programming]]. It is widely considered a classic text in [[computer science]],<ref>{{citation | url = http://grokcode.com/11/the-top-9-in-a-hackers-bookshelf/ |title= Grok code | contribution = The Top 9{{frac |1|2}} Books in a Hacker's Bookshelf |accessdate = 2010-10-23}}</ref> and is colloquially known as the "'''wizardWizard bookBook'''", due to the wizard on the jacket.<ref>{{Citation | contribution = Wizard Book | title = The New Hacker's Dictionary | edition = 2nd | year = 1993 | contribution-url = http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/}}.</ref> It was first published in 1985 by [[MIT Press]] and written by [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) professors [[Harold Abelson]] and [[Gerald Jay Sussman]], with [[Julie Sussman]]. It was formerly used as the textbook of MIT introductory programming class and at other schools. Before SICP, the introductory courses were almost always filled with learning the details of some programming language, while SICP focuses on finding general patterns from specific problems and building software tools that embody each pattern.<ref>{{Citation | last = Harvey | first = B | year = 2011 | contribution-url = http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/~bh/sicp.html | contribution = Why SICP matters? | title = The 150th anniversary of MIT | publisher = [[Boston Globe]]}}.</ref>
