- Published on
Blog Series: Schema/Racket Programming [video/github] - Course/Series Repository
- Authors
- Name
- Mohammed Nasim
- @nasimStg
This series is designed for students and developers new to the language, offering a step-by-step approach to mastering Racket. From setting up your development environment to understanding advanced concepts like macros, recursion, and higher-order functions, this course will equip you with all the tools you need to write efficient, elegant, and powerful Racket programs. Throughout this series, you'll not only learn core functional programming principles but also apply them in real-world projects. Each blog post is complemented by engaging video tutorials and GitHub code examples, making it easier than ever to follow along and practice on your own. Whether you're just starting your programming journey or want to add a functional language to your skillset, this series is your go-to resource for mastering Racket. Here's a breakdown of the topics covered in this series:
Table of Contents
- Part 1: Introduction to Scheme/Racket Programming
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 2: Functional Programming Concepts in Racket
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 3: Data Types and Structures
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 4: Control Flow in Racket
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 5: Higher-Order Functions
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 6: Working with Macros
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 7: Error Handling and Debugging
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 8: Working with Modules and Libraries
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 9: Input/Output and File Handling
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
- Part 10: Building a Project (Capstone)
- Objective:
- Topics:
- Resources:
Part 1: Introduction to Scheme/Racket Programming
Objective:
Introduce Scheme and Racket, set up the development environment, and cover the basics.
Topics:
- What is Scheme and Racket? (Brief history, features)
- Differences between Scheme and Racket
- Setting up Racket environment (DrRacket IDE, REPL usage)
- Writing the first program: "Hello World!"
- Basic syntax (Parentheses, expressions, comments)
Resources:
- Video: Introduction to the series and setup guide
- GitHub: Sample "Hello World!" and environment setup instructions
Part 2: Functional Programming Concepts in Racket
Objective:
Introduce the functional paradigm and its application in Racket.
Topics:
- Understanding Functional Programming (FP)
- Pure functions and immutability
- Variables and constants in Racket
- Function definitions and recursion basics
- First-class functions
Resources:
- Video: Functional programming in Racket
- GitHub: Examples of basic functions and recursion
Part 3: Data Types and Structures
Objective:
Learn about core data types and structures in Racket.
Topics:
- Atomic Data Types (Booleans, Numbers, Strings, Symbols)
- Lists (Creation, accessing elements, cons, car, cdr)
- Pairs, Cons Cells, and proper lists
- Using define-struct to create simple data structures
Resources:
- Video: Working with Racket data types
- GitHub: Example code for lists, pairs, and struct definitions
Part 4: Control Flow in Racket
Objective:
Understand conditional expressions and looping structures.
Topics:
- if, cond, and when for conditional expressions
- Boolean logic (and, or, not)
- Pattern matching with match
- Recursion as looping construct (Tail recursion)
Resources:
- Video: Control flow and recursion
- GitHub: Example code covering control flow constructs
Part 5: Higher-Order Functions
Objective:
Delve deeper into advanced functional programming concepts.
Topics:
- Definition and application of higher-order functions
- Using map, filter, foldl, foldr
- Anonymous functions with lambda
- Closures in Racket
Resources:
- Video: Understanding higher-order functions and lambda
- GitHub: Example of working with higher-order functions
Part 6: Working with Macros
Objective:
Introduce macros and metaprogramming in Racket.
Topics:
- What are macros? (Expanders and code transformation)
- Simple macro definitions using define-syntax and syntax-rules
- Examples of macro usage
- Creating custom control structures with macros
Resources:
- Video: Macros in Racket
- GitHub: Example macros and macro-driven code
Part 7: Error Handling and Debugging
Objective:
Learn about error handling techniques and debugging tools.
Topics:
- Basic error handling with error and raise
- Defensive programming with assertions
- Using the Racket debugger (Breakpoints, stack trace)
- Testing code using Racket's built-in testing framework (rackunit)
Resources:
- Video: Debugging and error handling in Racket
- GitHub: Code demonstrating error handling and testing practices
Part 8: Working with Modules and Libraries
Objective:
Understand modular programming and how to use/import libraries.
Topics:
- Writing and using modules with provide and require
- Creating reusable libraries
- Using third-party Racket packages from the package manager
Resources:
- Video: Modular programming in Racket
- GitHub: Example modules and package usage
Part 9: Input/Output and File Handling
Objective:
Learn how to handle input/output operations in Racket.
Topics:
- Reading and writing to the console
- File handling (Reading from files, writing to files)
- Streams and lazy evaluation
Resources:
- Video: Handling I/O and files in Racket
- GitHub: Code for file handling and I/O operations
Part 10: Building a Project (Capstone)
Objective:
Apply the knowledge gained by building a full-fledged project.
Topics:
- Building a small project (e.g., a text-based game, simple calculator, or parser)
- Combining all concepts: recursion, higher-order functions, data structures, and macros
- Project structure and best practices
Resources:
- Video: Project walkthrough
- GitHub: Full project code with explanations