Why Python Replaced Scheme in MIT’s Undergraduate CS Course

If you who have spent anytime at all on Irreal, you know that I’m a huge fan of SICP (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs) the seminal work by Gerry Sussman and Hal Abelson that was used for years in MIT’s EECS 6.01. MIT’s decision to replace SICP and Scheme with Python was met with cries of outrage from many in the CS community.

Chas Emerick attended an impromptu talk at the International Lisp Conference at MIT by Gerry Sussman on why MIT replaced Scheme with Python and reports on Sussman’s remarks. As I’ve said before, I find myself less than persuaded but it’s nice to get Sussman’s take on the matter; he surely knows more about it than me or most others commenting on it. If, like me, you believe SICP to be one of the best CS book every written and that learning its lessons—and Scheme, for that matter—is required for anyone who wants to be a competent programmer, you will find Sussman’s remarks interesting.

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