C++ vs Java - Learning purposes

[chrisname]

Someone mentioned Scheme - I just started learning it while reading the book Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP). I've used Scheme for probably around 5 minutes and already I feel comfortable with the syntax. It took me literally a minute to learn how to write expressions and how to define functions:

(define (square x) (* x x))
(define (sum-squares x y) (+ (square x) (square y)))

I definitely recommend the book; you can read it for free here: http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/

My favourite line so far is:

SICP wrote:

(define (square  x)        (*         x     x))
 To      square something, multiply   it by itself.

It's a simple but very, very useful explanation.

[Gaminic]

Scheme is also used in many of the Introduction to Programming courses on MIT-OpenCourseWare.