Scheme48

Scheme48 is an open-source implementation of the Scheme programming language. It provides an integrated environment that includes a read-eval-print loop, a bytecode compiler, and a compact virtual machine. The system is designed with portability in mind, allowing Scheme programs to run on multiple operating systems with minimal changes.

The core of Scheme48 compiles Scheme source to bytecode and executes it on its virtual machine, while also offering an interpreter for interactive development. It supports standard Scheme features such as lexical scoping, first-class procedures, tail recursion, and hygienic macros, along with a foreign function interface to C libraries for interoperation with existing code. A module and library mechanism enables modular programming and extension.

Scheme48 is implemented primarily in C and C++ and aims for a clean, well-documented architecture that is approachable for experimentation and education. It ships with a collection of standard libraries and SRFIs, providing practical capability for common programming tasks without requiring external dependencies. The environment is suitable for teaching, research in language design, and as a platform for experimenting with Scheme-based languages.

The project is distributed under a permissive open-source license, and its source code is available through project repositories and associated pages. Scheme48 encourages contributions from researchers and developers, and it is positioned among several established Scheme implementations as a tool for exploration, verification, and learning within the Scheme ecosystem.