SCHEME: An Interpreter for Extended Lambda Calculus

Abstract

Inspired by ACTORS [Greif and Hewitt] [Smith and Hewitt], we have implemented an interpreter for a LISP-like language, SCHEME, based on the lambda calculus [Church], but extended for side effects, multiprocessing, and process synchronization. The purpose of this implementation is tutorial. We wish to: (1) alleviate the confusion caused by Micro-PLANNER, CONNIVER, etc. by clarifying the embedding of non-recursive control structures in a recursive host language like LISP. (2) explain how to use these control structures, independent of such issues as pattern matching and data base manipulation. (3) have a simple concrete experimental domain for certain issues of programming semantics and style.