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- Schematik 1.1.5.1 is a Scheme programming environment for the
- NeXT(TM). It includes MIT Scheme version 7.1.3 together with a
- graphical user interface. Schematik is the easiest way to install MIT
- Scheme on the NeXT: just double click on Schematik.app -- everything
- it needs is bundled inside. (Of course, you will likely want to drag
- it into your Apps or /LocalApps directory and possibly your dock.)
- Moreover, it allows all interaction with Scheme to be mediated by a
- user-friendly text-editing front end. Finally, it provides extensions
- for graphics and for a simple robotics interface for Lego(R) Technic
- Control kits and the like.
-
- The user interface has all the standard NeXTstep(R) features, but also
- such Scheme-specific features as automatic indentation and parenthesis
- matching. When used with the built-in MIT Scheme, Schematik provides
- such additional features as indication of the current command loop
- type and level; indication of whether Scheme is running, garbage
- collecting, or waiting for input; error messages in standard
- NeXT-style error panels; and commands for sending various interrupts
- to Scheme.
-
- Schematik additionally includes both a compatibility package to make
- MIT Scheme look like the old-fashioned Scheme used in "Structure and
- Interpretation of Computer Programs" by Abelson and Sussman, and also
- the native-code compiler "Liar." (The default is to use the SICP
- compatibility mode, but this is easily changed from the preferences
- panel.)
-
- Schematik was developed by Max Hailperin and Chris Kane of Gustavus
- Adolphus College, and at Gustavus is used for the lab component of the
- two semester introduction to computer science sequence.
-
- If you do wind up using Schematik, we'd appreciate hearing about it:
- drop us a line at Schematik@GAC.edu, or by postal mail to
- Max Hailperin
- Gustavus Adolphus College
- 800 W. College Ave.
- St. Peter, MN 56082-1498
-
- If you contact us, we will also let you know when there is a new
- release. You can also get the most current release at any point by
- anonymous ftp from ftp.gac.edu. Change directory to pub/next/scheme,
- get and read the file README, and follow its instructions.
-
- The version of Schematik included in this distribution may not include
- the necessary ".binf" files to allow source-level debugging of the MIT
- Scheme system itself. These files raise the size of the Schematik.app
- package from about 8Mb to about 30Mb, and are not necessary if you are
- willing to accept all built-in procedures as impenetrable black boxes;
- however they are a nice luxury to have. They can be ftped from the
- above address if not included in this distribution.
-
- Both Schematik and MIT Scheme are copyright but freely distributable
- subject to some simple conditions specified in the licenses included
- with Schematik. (You can display the licenses by choosing the
- Licenses command within the Info menu.) Source code is also available
- under the same license terms, on an as-is basis; the Schematik sources
- can be ftped from the above address.
-
- Internationalization of Schematik currently consists of French and
- German user interfaces with the exception of the help files, which at
- this point remain English regardless.
-
- Schematik 1.1.5.1 was developed under release 2.1 of NeXTstep; it
- appears to work under 3.0 as of pre-release 2, based on very brief
- testing.
-
- The developers of Schematik would like to gratefully acknowledge NeXT
- Computer, Inc. for financially supporting the development effort, the
- MIT Scheme team for providing the most important part of the package,
- Bots for supporting the acquisition of robotics interfaces, and the
- National Science Foundation for grant USE-9152548 which provided the
- context and motivation for this work.
-
- (Category: Computer Science/Programming)