Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox book

| italic title = force

| name = Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs

| image = SICP cover.jpg

| caption = Cover of the second edition

| author = [[Harold Abelson]], [[Gerald Jay Sussman]], Julie Sussman

| cover_artist =

| country =
| series =

| subject = [[Computer science]]

| series =

| subject genre = [[Computer scienceTextbook]]

| genre publisher = [[TextbookMIT Press]]

| pub_date = 1985 (1st ed.), 1996 (2nd ed.)

| publisher = [[MIT Press]]

| media_type =

| pub_date = 1985 (1st ed.), 1996 (2nd ed.)

| media_type pages = 657

| pages = 657

| isbn = 0-262-51087-1

| isbn_note = (2nd ed.)

| oclc =

| dewey =

| congress = QA76.6 .A255 1996

| website = {{URL|https://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp}}

}}

'''''Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs''''' ('''''SICP''''') is a [[computer science]] textbook by [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) professors [[Harold Abelson]] and [[Gerald Jay Sussman]] with Julie Sussman. It is known as the '''''Wizard Book'''''<ref>{{Citation | contribution = Wizard Book | title = The New Hacker's Dictionary | edition = 2nd | year = 1993 | contribution-url = http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/}}.</ref> in [[hacker culture]].<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 access-date= 2010-10-23}}</ref> It teaches fundamental principles of [[computer programming]], including [[recursion]], [[abstractionAbstraction (computer science)|abstraction]], [[modularModular programming|modularity]], and [[programming language]] [[metalinguisticMetalinguistic abstraction|design]], and [[interpreterProgramming (computing)language implementation|implementation]].

The first[[MIT edition wasPress]] published inthe 1985first byedition thein [[MIT Press]]1985, and the second edition was published in 1996. It was formerly used as the textbook for MIT's introductory course in [[electrical engineering]] and computer science. SICP focuses on discovering general patterns for solving specific problems, and building software systems that make use of those patterns.<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>

==Content==

The book describes computer science concepts using [[Scheme (programming language)|Scheme]], a dialect of [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]]. It also uses a [[virtual machine|virtual]] [[register machine]] and [[Assembly language#Assember|assembler]] to implement Lisp interpreters [[Interpreter (computing)|interpreter]]s and [[compiler]]s.

== Characters ==

Several fictional characters appear in the book:

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* Louis Reasoner, a loose reasoner

== License ==

The book is licensed under a [[Creative Commons]] Attribution ShareAlike 4.0 License.<ref>{{CitationCite | title = SICPweb | publisher = MIT press | url = http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/ |title=SICP |publisher=MIT Press}}.</ref>

== Coursework ==

The book was used as the textbook for MIT's former introductory programming course, 6.001.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-001Spring-2005/CourseHome/ | work = OpenCourseWare | title = Electrical Engineering and Computer Science &#124; 6.001 Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs |date=Spring 2005 |website=OpenCourseWare |publisher = MIT | accessdate access-date=2011-06-28}}</ref> That course was replaced by 6.0001,<ref>{{Citation |title=Catalog |url=http://student.mit.edu/catalog/search.cgi?search=6.0001 |contribution=6.0001 |publisher=MIT}}.</ref> which uses [[Python (programming language)|Python]].<ref>{{Citation | first = Donald | last = Guy | quote = I talked to Professor Sussman on the phone... He said that he'd actually been trying to have 6.001 replaced for the last ten years (and I read somewhere that Professor Abelson was behind the move too). Understanding the principles is not essential for an introduction to the subject matter anymore. He sees 6.001 as obsolete. | url = http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/learning/coursework/the_end_of_an_era_1.shtml | title = MIT Admissions | type = blog comment | contribution = The End of an Era | accessdate access-date= 2008-08-05}}.</ref> Other schools also made use of the book as a course textbook.<ref>{{cite web | first = Edward C. | last = Martin | url= http://www.schemers.com/schools.html | title= Schools |publisher= Schemers |date = 2009-07-20 |accessdateaccess-date= 2011-06-28}}</ref> It is used as the textbook for MIT's Large Scale Symbolic Systems class, 6.945.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eduapps.mit.edu/textbook/books.html?Term=2016SP&Subject=6.945 |title=Large Scale Symbolic Systems class, 6.945 |website=MIT Touchstone |access-date=2019-06-16<!--Page does not display-->}}</ref>

==Reception==

''[[Byte (magazine)|Byte]]'' recommended SICP "for professional programmers who are really interested in their profession". The magazine statedsaid that the book was not easy to read, but that it would expose experienced programmers to both old and new topics.<ref name="kilov198611">{{cite news |last=Kilov |first=Haim |date=November 1986 |title= Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs | work=Byte | date=November 1986 | last =Kilov | first = Haim | page = 70}}</ref>

== Influence ==

SICP has been influential in computer science education, and a number ofseveral later books have been inspired by its style.

* ''[[Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics]] (SICM)'', another book by Gerald Jay Sussman that uses Scheme

* ''[[How to Design Programs]] (HtDP)'', which intends to be a more accessible book for introductory Computer Science, and to address perceived incongruities in SICP

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* ''[[Lisp in Small Pieces]] (LiSP)'', a book full of Scheme interpreters and compilers

== References ==

{{reflist|30emReflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://{{Official website|mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/ Official site]}}

* [http://groups.csail.mit.edu/mac/classes/6.001/abelson-sussman-lectures/ Video lectures]

{{Lisp programming language}}

[[Category:1985 books]]