Elementary Standard ML PDF

Overview

Between thought and expression there lies a lifetime. Lou Reed

This book is intended to support a first level course in programming in Standard ML (SML). No previous programming experience is required. No mathematical ability is required beyond competence at senior school year 4 mathematics. It is assumed that you have access to a computer running SML, and know how to prepare and modify a raw text file using an editor.

SML is a member of a family of programming languages known as the functional languages. It has many differences to the imperative programming languages like Basic, C, Pascal and COBOL. If you have already used one of these languages then it is important that you leave any preconceptions behind and approach SML with an open brain.

The material is organized as a continuous argument and each chapter assumes that the previous chapters have been understood. Thus, you should work steadily through the book rather than trying to dip in and out. Programming is ultimately about persuading computers to run programs. As you progress through this book it is well worth using a computer to try out the examples in the text. Each chapter is followed by exercises which are based on the preceding material. While time should be spent on thinking about how to solve the exercises and working out answers on paper, the use of a computer is fundamental.

This book has been developed from courses taught at Heriot-Watt University to 1st year undergraduate BSc Computer Science students (1993 to present) and to MSc Knowledge Based System students (1987 to present).

Author: G Michaelson