Notes from Strange Loop 2015: Day Two

lisp
own vm
compiled using RPython tool chain
RPython – reduced python
- used in PyPy project
- has own tracing JIT
runs on os x, linux, ARM (!)
very similar to clojure, but deviates from it where he wanted to for performance reasons
has continuations, called stacklets
has an open-ended object system; deftype, etc
also wanted good foreign function interface (FFI) for calling C functions
wants to be able to do :import Math.h :refer cosine
ended up writing template that can be called recursively to define everything you want to import
writes C file using template that has everything you need and then compiles it and then uses return values with the type info, etc
you can actually call python from pixie, as well (if you want)
not ready for production yet, but a fun project and PRs welcome

Big Bang: The World, The Universe, and The Network in the Programming Language

Matthias Felleisen
worst thought you can have: your kids are in middle school
word problems in math are not interesting, they’re boring
can use image placement and substitution to create animations out of word problems
mistake to teach children programming per se. they should use programming to help their math, and math to help their programming. but no programming on its own
longitudinal study: understanding a function, even if you don’t do any other programming ever, means a higher income as an adult
can design curriculum taking kids from middle school (programming + math) to high school (scheme), college (design programs), to graduate work (folding network into the language)

Published by Ron Toland