installation refinements

[lambda.git] / how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn

diff --git a/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn b/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn
index 8a6f5d8..24b0906 100644 (file)
--- a/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn
+++ b/how_to_get_the_programming_languages_running_on_your_computer.mdwn
@@ -106,9 +106,14 @@ easier and more straightforward for others.
 of programming languages. The other dialects are called "Common Lisp" and "Clojure".
 Scheme is the more clean and minimalist dialect, and is what's mostly used in
 academic circles.
 of programming languages. The other dialects are called "Common Lisp" and "Clojure".
 Scheme is the more clean and minimalist dialect, and is what's mostly used in
 academic circles.

+
+*   In your web browser:
+
+    There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of Scheme available for online use at <http://tryscheme.sourceforge.net/>.
+

 Scheme itself has umpteen different "implementations", which share most of
 their fundamentals, but have slightly different extensions and interact with
 Scheme itself has umpteen different "implementations", which share most of
 their fundamentals, but have slightly different extensions and interact with

-the operating system differently. One major implementation is called Racket,
+the operating system differently. One major implementation is called [Racket](http://racket-lang.org),

 and that is what we recommend you use. (A few years back they were called PLT Scheme, but then
 they changed their name to Racket.)
 If you're already using or comfortable with
 and that is what we recommend you use. (A few years back they were called PLT Scheme, but then
 they changed their name to Racket.)
 If you're already using or comfortable with


@@ -128,10 +133,6 @@ Racket has several components. The two most visible components for us are a comm
 
 The current version of Racket is 6.1.1 (released November 2014).
 
 
 The current version of Racket is 6.1.1 (released November 2014).
 

-*   In your web browser:
-
-    There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of Scheme available for online use at <http://tryscheme.sourceforge.net/>.
-

 *   **To install in Windows**
 
     Go to <http://racket-lang.org/download/>. Download and install the "Windows x64" version. (Or the "Windows x86" verson if you have an older, 32-bit system.)
 *   **To install in Windows**
 
     Go to <http://racket-lang.org/download/>. Download and install the "Windows x64" version. (Or the "Windows x86" verson if you have an older, 32-bit system.)


@@ -150,14 +151,21 @@ The current version of Racket is 6.1.1 (released November 2014).
 
          sudo port install mzscheme
 
 
          sudo port install mzscheme
 

+    <!-- mzscheme v4.1.5, from March 2009; latest mzscheme is 4.2.5, from April 2010 -->
+

     If you want the GUI components, I think you'll need to use the
     If you want the GUI components, I think you'll need to use the

-    "Mac/without MacPorts" installation options above.
+    "Mac/without MacPorts" installation options above. Or you could try the Chicken Scheme implementation instead of Racket. This is more current.
+    To do that, type:

 
 

-    I recommend also typing:
+        sudo port install chicken readline
+
+    <!-- chicken v4.8.0.2, from Feb 2013; latest available is 4.9.0.1, from Nov 2014 -->
+
+    Whether you use mzscheme or Chicken, I recommend also typing:

 
         sudo port install rlwrap
 
 
         sudo port install rlwrap
 

-    then if you ever use the command-line program `mzscheme` (or `racket`), you should start it by typing `rlwrap mzscheme`. This gives
+    then if you ever use the command-line program `mzscheme` (or `racket`, for that matter), you should start it by typing `rlwrap mzscheme` (or whatever). This gives

     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 
     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 


@@ -177,7 +185,7 @@ The current version of Racket is 6.1.1 (released November 2014).
 
         sudo apt-get rlwrap
 
 
         sudo apt-get rlwrap
 

-    then if you ever use the command-line program `mzscheme` (or `racket`), you should start it by typing `rlwrap mzscheme`. This gives
+    then if you ever use the command-line program `mzscheme` (or `racket`), you should start it by typing `rlwrap mzscheme` (or whatever). This gives

     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 
     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 


@@ -198,12 +206,15 @@ However, if you're not able to get that working, don't worry about it much.
 
 The current version of OCaml is 4.02.1 (released October 2014).
 
 
 The current version of OCaml is 4.02.1 (released October 2014).
 

-Another instruction page focuses on [OPAM](http://ocaml.org/docs/install.html), also [this](https://opam.ocaml.org).
+*   *Another instruction page focuses on [OPAM](http://ocaml.org/docs/install.html), also [this](https://opam.ocaml.org).*
+
+*   *[More details about installing OCaml on Macs, if needed](http://cocan.org/getting_started_with_ocaml_on_mac_os_x)*

 
 *   In your web browser:
 
     There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of OCaml available for online use at <http://try.ocamlpro.com/>.
 
 
 *   In your web browser:
 
     There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of OCaml available for online use at <http://try.ocamlpro.com/>.
 

+

 *   **To install in Windows**
 
     Go to <http://caml.inria.fr/download.en.html>.
 *   **To install in Windows**
 
     Go to <http://caml.inria.fr/download.en.html>.


@@ -256,8 +267,6 @@ Another instruction page focuses on [OPAM](http://ocaml.org/docs/install.html),
     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 
     you a nice history of the commands you've already typed, which you can scroll up and down in with your
     keyboard arrows.
 

-*   [More details about installing OCaml on Macs, if needed](http://cocan.org/getting_started_with_ocaml_on_mac_os_x)
-

 *   **To install on Linux**
 
     Use your packaging system, for example, open a Terminal and
 *   **To install on Linux**
 
     Use your packaging system, for example, open a Terminal and


@@ -287,7 +296,7 @@ Another instruction page focuses on [OPAM](http://ocaml.org/docs/install.html),
 
 ## Getting Haskell ##
 
 
 ## Getting Haskell ##
 

-This last step is less crucial than the others, since we will be focusing
+This last installation is less crucial than the others, since we will be focusing

 primarily on Scheme and OCaml. However we, and the readings you come across,
 will sometimes mention Haskell, so it might be worth your installing this too,
 so that you have it available to play around with.
 primarily on Scheme and OCaml. However we, and the readings you come across,
 will sometimes mention Haskell, so it might be worth your installing this too,
 so that you have it available to play around with.


@@ -305,12 +314,37 @@ other.
 
     There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of Haskell available for online use at <http://tryhaskell.org/>.
 
 
     There is a (slow, bare-bones) version of Haskell available for online use at <http://tryhaskell.org/>.
 

-sudo apk-get install haskell-platform
+Like Scheme, Haskell has a couple of different implementations. The dominant one, and the one we recommend you install, is called [GHC](https://wiki.haskell.org/GHC), short for "Glasgow Haskell Compiler". To install this on your machine, there are a couple of different strategies. It's helpful to understand some lingo as you begin this process:
+
+*   As mentioned, **GHC** is the main Haskell engine or compiler you'll be installing. The current version is 7.8.4, from December 2014.
+*   **gcc** and **llvm/clang** and **Xcode** and **MinGW** are names for other compilers on different systems. Oftentimes these will be used during the installation process to get GHC up and running. Some of the strategies described below will help you install these if they're not already on your machine.
+*   **alex** and **happy** and **haddock** are names of various Haskell helper programs that GHC uses to get up and running.
+*   **[Cabal](https://www.haskell.org/cabal)** is a "package manager" for Haskell. It allows you to install libraries or extensions that other people have built. (Usually those are published at the [Hackage](https://hackage.haskell.org) web site.) Some of these are experimental and may not always work; others are quite fundamental and are almost de facto parts of what people expect in a Haskell system.
+*   **[Haskell Platform](https://www.haskell.org/platform)** is a standard bundle that includes a fixed version of GHC, plus fixed versions of some of the most popular libraries or extensions. This is updated once or twice a year. The current version is 2014.2.0.0, from August 2014. It includes GHC version 7.8.3.
+
+The easiest way to get up and running with Haskell/GHC is to install the Haskell Platform. Here's how to do that **on Windows**:
+
+*   Go to <https://www.haskell.org/platform/windows.html> and follow the instructions. It looks like this process will automatically install the MinGW compiler needed to get this build of Haskell running on Windows.
+
+On **Mac without MacPorts**:
+
+*   Go to <https://www.haskell.org/platform/mac.html> and follow the instructions. This requires Mac OS X 10.6 / Snow Leopard or later; but there is a link to an earlier version of Haskell Platform, that's built for Mac OS X 10.5 / Leopard. These instructions also require that you have (parts of) Apple's Xcode tools installed. (These are mentioned above.) There are some very brief comments about different options for how to get that on the Haskell Platform page.
+
+On **Mac with MacPorts**:
+
+*   In a Terminal, type `sudo port install haskell-platform`.
+
+On **Ubuntu or Debian Linux**:
+
+*   In a Terminal, type `sudo apt-get install haskell-platform`.
+
+
+---

 
 

-<https://github.com/pittsburgh-haskell/haskell-installation>
+*   [Here is more info](https://github.com/pittsburgh-haskell/haskell-installation) about installing Haskell.

 
 

-<https://www.haskell.org/platform>

 
 

-Getting started: <https://wiki.haskell.org/Haskell_in_5_steps>
+*   It's useful to know about the general [Haskell wiki](https://wiki.haskell.org) (not restricted to just GHC). They have a [Getting Started](https://wiki.haskell.org/Haskell_in_5_steps) page, which also recommends that you install the Haskell Platform.

 
 

+*   <http://new-www.haskell.org/downloads>