The Howdy Glossary

Chibi Scheme is a lightweight implementation of the Scheme programming language that adheres to the R7RS (Small) standard. Designed with small size and efficiency in mind, it is suitable for embedded systems and systems programming. It includes features like garbage collection, first-class continuations, hygienic macros, support for modules, and an interactive development environment.

Created by Alex Shinn, Chibi Scheme aims to be minimal and efficient while being well-suited for embedded systems. Shinn has experience in various Scheme implementations and other programming languages, which informed his creation of Chibi Scheme as a tool tailored for environments where compactness and performance are vital. The implementation offers a versatile set of features in a small package.

Chibi Scheme differs from competitors such as Racket, Guile, Chicken Scheme, Gambit, and MIT/GNU Scheme by focusing on minimalism and efficiency. Its adherence to the R7RS (Small) standard allows it to provide modern features like garbage collection and first-class continuations while maintaining a compact footprint. This makes it an attractive option for developers needing performance optimization within resource-constrained settings.