[CM] Learn CM - Sal or Scheme

[Heinrich Taube]

On Apr 29, 2011, at 4:16 AM, publst wrote:

> When learning Common Music from scratch which is the recommended  
> language: Sal or Scheme?

hi, if you are comfortable with prefix notation or have programmed in  
the past then use scheme, if not i would use sal since its easier to  
learn.  ive taught with both and can definitely say that students pick  
it up much faster and more easily than scheme, my first semester  
course gets lots more done than it did using lisp syntax

that said, if you need the full expressive features of scheme then  
there is no substitute.

>
> Given that all the examples in 'Notes from the Metalevel' are in  
> Scheme: what are the advantages of learning Sal?

infix, easy to learn (very little syntax)

>
> Is one language more functionally capable than the other?

hard to beat scheme for expressive power!  the question is: do you   
need that.

>
> Will 'Notes from the Metalevel' be updated to include Sal?

not sure, maybe on sabbatical!
if you boot Grace you can give both a try , look in the Help menu for  
examples and tutorials for both



> Thanks
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