The blog post "Solving SICP" details the author's experience working through the challenging textbook Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP). They emphasize the importance of perseverance and a deep engagement with the material, advocating against rushing through exercises or relying solely on online solutions. The author highlights the book's effectiveness in teaching fundamental computer science concepts through Scheme, and shares their personal approach of rewriting code multiple times and focusing on understanding the underlying principles rather than just achieving a working solution. Ultimately, they advocate for a deliberate and reflective learning process to truly grasp the profound insights SICP offers.
The blog post "Solving SICP" by Lockywolf details the author's personal journey and strategic approach to working through the challenging textbook Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP). The author emphasizes that SICP is not merely about learning Scheme, the programming language used in the book, but rather about developing a deep understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. The author outlines a methodical process for tackling the exercises, emphasizing the importance of not just getting the code to work, but truly comprehending the underlying principles.
This process involves several key steps. First, the author stresses the significance of careful reading and re-reading of the text, ensuring a solid grasp of the concepts before attempting the exercises. Then, when approaching an exercise, the author advocates for writing out solutions by hand before resorting to typing code, believing this promotes deeper thought and a better understanding of the problem. This step encourages the development of clear, logical thinking and reduces reliance on trial-and-error coding.
Furthermore, the author champions the practice of testing code extensively, going beyond simply checking for correct outputs and instead probing edge cases and unusual inputs to ensure robustness and fully grasp the behavior of the solution. This rigorous testing process helps uncover hidden bugs and deepen understanding of the code's functionality under various conditions.
The author also highlights the importance of seeking alternative solutions and refactoring code, even after a working solution is achieved. This encourages exploring different approaches and refining the code for clarity, efficiency, and elegance. By examining multiple perspectives, the author suggests a deeper understanding of the problem and the potential trade-offs of various solutions can be achieved.
Finally, the author emphasizes the value of persistence and patience when grappling with SICP's challenging exercises. Recognizing that the process can be demanding, the author encourages readers to embrace the struggle and view it as an opportunity for significant intellectual growth. The author advocates for stepping away from a problem when stuck and returning with a fresh perspective, highlighting the importance of perseverance and a willingness to wrestle with complex concepts. The overall message is that working through SICP is a demanding but rewarding endeavor, fostering a deep and fundamental understanding of computer science principles.
Summary of Comments ( 3 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43257963
HN users discuss the blog post about working through SICP. Several commenters praise the book's impact on their thinking, even if they don't regularly use Scheme. Some suggest revisiting it after gaining more programming experience, noting a deeper appreciation for the concepts on subsequent readings. A few discuss the value of SICP's exercises in developing problem-solving skills, and the importance of actually working through them rather than just reading. One commenter highlights the significance of the book's metacircular evaluator chapter. Others debate the practicality of Scheme and the relevance of SICP's mathematical focus for modern programming, with some suggesting alternative learning resources.
The Hacker News post titled "Solving SICP" links to a blog post about someone's experience working through the Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP) book. The discussion in the comments is relatively brief, containing a few observations and shared experiences, rather than in-depth debate or complex arguments.
One commenter reflects on their own experience with SICP, mentioning they only completed the first three chapters, and feeling it wasn't as groundbreaking as they anticipated. They suggest the book's impact might be lessened for those already familiar with recursion and higher-order functions from other programming paradigms. They also express curiosity about the author's current thoughts on the book after a year's reflection.
Another commenter shares a different perspective, stating that SICP was the most influential computer science book they read and emphasizing the importance of completing all the exercises, especially those involving implementing interpreters and compilers, to fully grasp the concepts.
A third commenter briefly mentions encountering SICP in university and finding it challenging initially, but expresses a desire to revisit it in the future.
The remaining comments are brief and primarily express appreciation for the original blog post or offer alternative learning resources related to Lisp and functional programming, such as the book "Land of Lisp" and online lectures by Brian Harvey.
While the comments provide a glimpse into different readers' reactions and experiences with SICP, the discussion isn't particularly extensive or contentious. It mainly serves as a platform for shared sentiments and recommendations for further exploration of related topics. There isn't one single "most compelling" comment; they each offer brief but valid perspectives.