SCOOPS and obsolete forms

[lambda!scp@lanl.gov (Stephen Pope)]

Thanks to folks here in netland, I recently got a copy of SCOOPS
(for those still wondering where it can be found, try ftp to
linc.cis.upenn.edu (130.91.6.8).  sherin@linc.cis.upenn.edu
seems to be the responsible party, though don't take this as *my*
endorsement to hound him with mail.

In any case, I found two problems in bringing scoops up under
MIT-CSCHEME:

  Release 6.1.2
  Microcode 10.2
  Runtime 13.91
  SF 3.13

First, the replacements of "syntax-table-define ..." with "add-syntax!"
et. al were unnecessary - I didn't touch my existing runtime band.
Second, SCOOPS made use of the REC special form.  This was apparently
removed from the language as of R3RS.  In any case, I got runtime
errors (Unbound variable NAME).  It is always used in the form:

	((rec name (lambda ...)) args ...)

where name needs to recursively call itself.  I'm no SCHEME wizard,
but it seemed the proper equivalent was:

	(let ((name (lambda ...))) (name args ...))

which appears to run just fine.

Can anybody enlighten me on the subject of REC and its demise?

Stephen Pope
Santa Fe Institute
scp@sfi.santafe.edu