Computer Software Implementation Issue

[R-G]

Thats good for you, Xav. That means you don't need to have three or four different topics while writing exams!

By the way, read the interview that Jordan made with me, I think it explains a lot. However, our school system is more or less the same as in the United States of America.

[G_Morgan]

UK exams are easy. There's just so bloody many of them and plenty of kids have an irrational fear of exams. It's all about getting higher pass grades each year, separating exams into smaller chunks make passes much easier.

On Scheme. PLT Scheme is probably the nicest implementation. Although I usually take MzScheme (the PLT Scheme interpreter) and run it using Emacs Scheme mode rather than using DrScheme.

The biggest problem with Scheme implementations is that Scheme tries to be as minimalistic as possible and hence many implement their own library sub systems. The new standard (R6RS) solves many of these issues but most of the implementations intend to stick with R5RS.

I've thought about writing an R6RS interpreter but I've got so many half done projects (including a tutorial I've promised for here) that I best not start another until I've cleared some of the back log.

//edit - I'd say PLT is nice because it has a decent library set. More than any other free implementation.//

[R-G]

Thank you for your opinion and advice.

[Xav]

You misunderstand me. In addition to the normal exams every year, we have extra exams for every topic!

[G_Morgan]

Originally Posted by Xav

You misunderstand me. In addition to the normal exams every year, we have extra exams for every topic!

I assume that the normal ones means internal exams?

I was in the first year that did the AS/A2 split for the A-Levels and was fortunate enough that all my subjects (Computing, Maths, Physics and Chemistry) were already modular so the only difference was you got a intermediate AS qualification.

We didn't do any internal or mock exams during A-Level. Did loads in compulsory education though and that was annoying.

R-G, if you already know Scheme then disregard this but a good book that covers Scheme programming is Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs.

Welcome to the SICP Web Site

There's also a PDF

http://deptinfo.unice.fr/~roy/sicp.pdf

This book is free and covers quite a lot of basic computing topics in Scheme (from basic programming all the way to implementing a basic interpreter).

[Xav]

It's a known fact - the UK does more exams than most other countries.

[G_Morgan]

Originally Posted by Xav

It's a known fact - the UK does more exams than most other countries.

I didn't say any different. Only that the individual exams are easier than the exams that done in the UK 20 years ago because the individual focus is narrower. Doing a large number of small exams is easier than a small number of large exams (without actually reducing the content of the course). It's the reason pass rates have kept going up as they have made the course more modular.

[Xav]

Yes, but we still do the large exams and the small exams!

[R-G]

Literature, under certain conditions, always comes right.

[Xav]

What do you mean?