SICPelago is a randomized Scheme environment where you unlock core capabilities by solving carefully selected exercises adapted from Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. Starting only with your trusty lambda and the supporting quote, climb your way to the top of the textbook, exploring math puzzles, composite data structures, and infinite sequences. Happy April Prototypes Day!
SICPelago
“Pretty Good, Pretty Good”
As a kid, one of my first games was Maelstrom, a slick Asteroids clone for the Mac by Ambrosia Software (who later went on to publish the Escape Velocity series). I have childhood memories of the two-note soundtrack while playing the two simplest strategies (spin in place without accelerating, and zoom upwards in a straight line firing all the way), of the “You EEdiot” when you accidentally shot a power-up canister, and the “Pretty good, pretty good!” for when you score over 10,000 points in a single stage.
Except if I open up Maelstrom now, it says “Hot damn!” instead.
Trunic
Last weekend I spent several hours on Tunic’s “offline” puzzle: its written language, dubbed “Trunic” by its fans. Several hours was actually less than I expected it to take! And figuring out the answer was satisfying and I immediately wanted to write something in Trunic myself.
