From: Jonathan Feinberg <jdf@pobox.com>
 Subject: [comp.lang.scheme] Q: What are the possibilities of Scheme?
 Newsgroups: alt.humor.best-of-usenet
 Date: 12 Nov 1996 09:54:02 -0700

 David.Pues@student.ac.be (David Pues) writes:

 >My question is : what is Scheme used for? (so: benefits, uses, ...)

 Here's the answer that you're looking for:

 Scheme is used for just a whole bunch of stuff. It's a general purpose
 programming language that can do general purpose things. It is not as
 advanced commercially as Lisp, but pretty popular in acadamic circles.

 There are fast implementations, there are slow implementations, there
 are big and small implementations. Which is really a blessing and a
 curse -- there are a LOT of implementations. 

 I think that it can (almost) be safely said that there is SOME
 implementation somewhere that supports your platform for whatever
 application you want to write.

 Schemes weak point is in lacking a standard way to extend the system to
 adapt to the packages that keep popping up for all of the OS's,
 specifically graphics extensions (like the Windows API, etc).

 Now, here's the answer that's you're not looking for:

 Scheme is programmer poetry. It is used to help cleanse the soul of
 programmers who must use lesser languages to earn their daily bread.

 Programming in Scheme is like driving on an open freeway versus
 commuting in gridlocked traffic. You can concentrate on the
 destination versus trying to not get killed getting there. Scheme
 stays out of your way, wrapping you in a clean, almost noise-free
 environment.

 But, on the dark side, Scheme is a beautiful singing siren, resting on
 the white sand of a remote harbor that is deceptively shallow and
 bottomed with jagged rocks. She sits waiting for programmers who may have
 lost their way and find themselves out and about, searching for
 Something Else. They see the beauty of Scheme, hear its song, and turn
 their ships toward the white, sandy beaches that frame Her, only to
 have their hopes crushed against the hidden limitations by the pounding
 surf of "Commercial Deliverability, Corporate Confidence, and Business
 Realities".

 So, alas, the Professional Developers have body's in the gray
 cubicles of Corporate America, shackled to their mortagages by C++ and
 other horrors, while, inside, their souls scream for the peace and
 purity of Scheme, the tranquility.

 But you! For you it's not too late! Not everyone hears the sirens
 call. It touches some more than others, but take it from someone who
 has felt the touch!

 DON'T RISK IT! RUN! FLEE! While you are still in the dark! Before it
 claims another victim! DROP THE CLASS WHILE YOU STILL CAN! 

 Grab a "C++ in 21 Days" book, lock yourself in a round room, and
 follow the chapters as it points you to the corners for answers. When
 you exit, you'll have the support of zillions of others, on their
 bait barges past the breakwater, content. Yeah, the environment is
 ugly, it smells bad, and some of the company could be better...but
 they seem to catch fish...not pretty or big fish, but enough fish to
 get by on.

 For the touched that are fighting the waves in the harbor, we
 diligently struggle to dredge the bottom, to make the harbor deeper
 and hopefully finally free Scheme out into the Real World.

 Of course, when she arrives, she'll grab the limelight, toss us aside, and
 court the muckraking pundits who've "Always known her". 

 But we'll know. 

 We loved her first.

 Does that help?

 - --