PLT Release Notes
Current Release: 51
Release Date: March 25, 1998.
This note summarizes the major differences between DrScheme v51 and v50.
The Future
PLT intends to conduct a major release by the end of this year or early
next year. The changes will directly affect users of MrEd, the graphical
toolbox. Please expect deletions of features, additions, and a few
modifications. DrScheme will migrate to a graphical multi-module
environment. This change should not affect beginners or teachers.
New Programs
-
DrScheme Jr is a new text-only version of DrScheme.
It requires fewer resources, but provides only a read-eval-print
loop with line-column-based error messages.
DrScheme Jr does not provide a built-in program editor or a graphical
toolbox.
-
mzc is a new compiler that transforms MzScheme
programs to native code libraries. mzc is not yet an
optimizing compiler; the performance of its output is comparable
to running the Scheme source directly in MzScheme.
MrSpidey
MrSpidey is now distributed as a separate tool.
Download instructions are provided when downloading
DrScheme. When installed, MrSpidey may be invoked from
DrScheme.
Networking facilities
The networking-related routines have now been incorporated into the
distribution. They are in the collection `net', and consist of
the packages
-
cgi provides routines for writing CGI scripts
-
nntp communicates with a Usenet server
-
pop3 communicates with a POP-3 server
-
url parses and establishes HTTP connections
- mail
sends email (preliminary, currently only works under Unix)
Documentation is in a subdirectory `docs', of the net collection
directory. That subdirectory contains files named
package.txt
,
where package ranges over the above names.
Miscellany
There is a new DrScheme vocabulary named "MrEd". This
vocabulary does not provide source correlation for errors,
but allows fast parsing and execution. In the next release,
the MrEd vocabulary will become a language level.
Console I/O has been sped up, and is interruptible by using
the Break button.
See the HISTORY files in notes/drscheme, notes/mzscheme, and
notes/mred for descriptions of other bug fixes and minor changes.
Submit bugs using the web interface
(encouraged) or send mail to
plt-bugs@cs.rice.edu
(discouraged).