Re: [Chicken-users] unbound variable: or

[Matt Gushee]

On Wed, May 27, 2015 at 3:46 PM, Peter Danenberg <address@hidden> wrote:

Quoth Peter Bex on Boomtime, the 1st of Confusion:
> If "or" were a simple procedure, it would first evaluate all its
> arguments and then call the procedure.

This is also known as applicative vs. normal order; see e.g.:

  https://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/sicp/book/node85.html

Procedures are applicative; macros are normal.

I think that chapter needs to be studied carefully and in context for its relevance to be appreciated. I trust that it *is* relevant (and just in case anyone doesn't know, this book (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs) is one of the classics in the field, and I think well worth studying for anyone who has time and wants to *really* understand Scheme ... though I haven't done it yet), but I'm not sure it works as a quick explanation.

--

Matt Gushee