> I tried learning Factor 3 years ago and wrote a few simple programs. I
> gave up on Factor largely because I didn't understand the concepts.
> Factor's documentation is mostly a reference and assumes that the user
> already knows the concepts. I am learning Scheme now because Scheme is
> an academic language and consequently has beaucoup documentation
> available explaining concepts. Within that context, "ivory tower
> concepts" are largely what I want. After I get a handle on the
> concepts I can apply that knowledge to "real-world programming." It is
> a mistake for me to dive into writing real-world programs without
> first understanding the concepts though --- I would just turn into a
> script-kiddie who can paste together code written by other people, but
> who doesn't know how the code works and wouldn't be able to write a
> program from scratch to save his soul.

> Scheme, and SICP, are a good place for me to learn right now. Later on
> I may go back to Factor and/or jump to CL, both of which are more real-
> world oriented. Or, I may just stick with Scheme --- Gambit is
> designed to work hand-in-hand with C, which definitely implies that it
> is trying to escape from the much-dreaded ivory-tower to be real-world
> applicable. :-)