this post was submitted on 09 May 2025
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Programming

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Going old-school: I'm reading "How to Design Programs" by MIT Press, and using LISP variation (feddit.uk)
submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by sekxpistol@feddit.uk to c/programming@programming.dev
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It actually uses a variation of LISP. I know old MIT college courses in Computer Science used to teach it.

The book, "How to Design Programs," is based on a variation of LISP, which I know used to be taught in college computer science courses.

I have zero programming experience, but I want to learn—not for a job, just to truly understand it.

A lot of modern advice says to start with Python because it’s easier or faster, but I’m not looking for shortcuts.

I want to go old-school. This book teaches programming with a 1990s-style approach. It may not use the latest tools, but I’ve heard it actually teaches how to think like a programmer and builds real logic skills.

Once I finish it, I plan to take the University of Helsinki’s Java MOOC. Again, sticking to fundamentals and learning the core ideas, not just trendy frameworks.

For context, I’m not naturally a math person either—I’m teaching myself beginning college algebra right now. That’s less about going old-school and more because I never had a college education, so I’m starting from scratch across the board.

So, does this sound like a solid strategy? My goal isn’t a career—just a deep, strong foundation to see if I can really do this.

What do you all think?

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[–] sekxpistol@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I don’t remember being that impressed with HTDP but it’s been a while and I didn’t look much. I’d say read SICP first in either case.

I actually read that HTDP was written to be read before SICP, because they thought that for a beginner, some of the core fundamentals in SICP may be missed.