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Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman

Hacker Approved

Recommended as a classic programming text that teaches computer science concepts through Scheme, with free online and PDF versions. Caveat: problems are mostly toy examples.

Summarized from 15 comments.

Recommended as a classic programming text that teaches computer science concepts through Scheme, with free online and PDF versions. Caveat: problems are mostly toy examples.

recommend
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Why people love it

  • Taught through Scheme · 3

    I wouldn't be half the computer programmer, that I am today, without going the SICP and Scheme way.

    Nov 2025 · comment

    it's worth at least trying to go through SICP in Scheme

    Jul 2026 · comment

    the SICP it's cool to do with Chicken Scheme

    Aug 2026 · comment
  • Shaped how people program and think · 2

    I wouldn't be half the computer programmer, that I am today, without going the SICP and Scheme way.

    Nov 2025 · comment

    All of this had a lasting effect on how I program and think.

    Jun 2026 · comment
  • Accessible online and as PDF · 2

    Online, interactive SICP in the browser, you don't need to install anything

    Aug 2026 · comment

    Get the SICP PDF and start doing SICP.

    Apr 2026 · comment
  • Elegant, inspiring examples · 2

    I always found the beginning of SICP (the wizard-programmer analogy) quite inspiring and fun

    Dec 2025 · comment

    the problems are mostly toys - useful elegant examples

    Jul 2026 · comment

What people warn about

  • Problems are mostly toy examples · 1

    the problems are mostly toys - useful elegant examples

    Jul 2026 · comment

What hackers pick instead

Every quote

The 12 most detailed of 15 comments. Each links to the original.

  1. I wouldn't be half the computer programmer, that I am today, without going the SICP and Scheme way.

    Recommends · Nov 2025 · in “Racket v9.0”

  2. I always found the beginning of SICP (the wizard-programmer analogy) quite inspiring and fun

    Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “Autism's confusing cousins”

  3. Online, interactive SICP in the browser, you don't need to install anything

    Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “Simplifying and Refactoring Introductory Calculus”

  4. All of this had a lasting effect on how I program and think.

    Recommends · Jun 2026 · in “HP re-releases classic computer science calculator: The HP-16C”

  5. it's worth at least trying to go through SICP in Scheme

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “A Road to Lisp: Why Lisp”

  6. the problems are mostly toys - useful elegant examples

    Mixed · Jul 2026 · in “Solid and Clean Code never felt solid or clean to me”

  7. the SICP it's cool to do with Chicken Scheme

    Recommends · Aug 2026 · in “Chicken Scheme 6.0 Released”

  8. Get the SICP PDF and start doing SICP.

    Recommends · Apr 2026 · in “The seven programming ur-languages”

  9. SICP chapter 4 is the metacircular evaluator, chapter 5 is the compiler.

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Scarf has moved away from Haskell”

  10. SICP was nice although nicest was the one about gravitational physics

    Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “Autism's confusing cousins”

  11. allows to focus purely on computer science concepts which is great

    Recommends · Jul 2026 · in “Teaching Kids Forth – Anna Liberty”

  12. maybe SICP if you know how to reimplement (frame)

    Recommends · Jan 2026 · in “Raspberry Pi and mini PC home lab prices hit parity as DRAM costs skyrocket”

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