Article notes
"Every computer program is a [...], hatched in the mind, of a real or mental [...]."
"Every computer program is a model, hatched in the mind, of a real or mental process."
What do large programs grow from?
Small programs
What do we call the standard program structures we have an arsenal of that we can combine into larger structures using organizational techniques of proven value?
Idioms
What word does SICP use to describe the enterprise that is called programming?
Promethean
Whereas [...] is for building pyramids (static structures built by armies pushing blocks), [...] is for building organisms (dynamic structures built by pushing simpler organisms).
Whereas Pascal is for building pyramids (static structures built by armies pushing blocks), Lisp is for building organisms (dynamic structures built by pushing simpler organisms).
"[...] programs inflate libraries with functions whose utility transcends the application that produced them."
"Lisp programs inflate libraries with functions whose utility transcends the application that produced them."
SICP: "After all, the critical programming concerns of [...] and [...] tend to coalesce as the systems under investigation become larger."
SICP: "After all, the critical programming concerns of software engineering and artificial intelligence tend to coalesce as the systems under investigation become larger."
"We control [...] by building [...] that hide details when appropriate."
"We control complexity by building abstractions that hide details when appropriate."
The focus of SICP is techniques used to control the intellectual [...] of large software systems.
The focus of SICP is techniques used to control the intellectual complexity of large software systems.
"We control [...] by establishing conventional interfaces that enable us to construct systems by combining standard, well-understood pieces in a “mix and match” way."
"We control complexity by establishing conventional interfaces that enable us to construct systems by combining standard, well-understood pieces in a “mix and match” way."
"We control [...] by establishing new languages for describing a design, each of which emphasizes particular aspects of the design and deemphasizes others."
"We control complexity by establishing new languages for describing a design, each of which emphasizes particular aspects of the design and deemphasizes others."
"We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of [...]."
"We toast the Lisp programmer who pens his thoughts within nests of parentheses."
What does SICP claim "computer science" is (it "is not a science")?
Procedural epistemology
"We thank all the generations of [...], starting with [...], who have fashioned a fine tool of unprecedented power and elegance."
"We thank all the generations of Lisp wizards, starting with John McCarthy, who have fashioned a fine tool of unprecedented power and elegance."
[...] provides a framework for dealing precisely with notions of “what is."
Mathematics provides a framework for dealing precisely with notions of “what is."
[...] provides a framework for dealing precisely with notions of “how to.
Computation provides a framework for dealing precisely with notions of “how to.
What is the study of the structure of knowledge from an imperative point of view, as opposed to the more declarative point of view taken by classical mathematical subjects?
Procedural epistemology
What is Lisp's native data structure that is largely responsible for the growth of utility where Lisp libraries have lots of useful functions?
The list
The oldest active programming languages are [...] (scientific and engineering computation) and [...] (artificial intelligence).
The oldest active programming languages are Fortran (scientific and engineering computation) and Lisp (artificial intelligence).
What are programs called that perform some precise mathematical function such as sorting or finding the maximum of a sequence of numbers?
Algorithms
What always operates at a level more primitive than that at which we care to program?
Hardware