The syntax used in PyList is similar to the syntax of scheme in SICP. You can regard the project as a exercise after learning Chapter 4 and 5 of SICP.

1. A Loop to sum integers

   (define (sum from to)
   (begin
       (define (iter from to acc)
           (if (> from to)
               acc
               (iter (+ from 1) to (+ acc from))))
       (iter from to 0)))
   (display (sum 1 100000))
   

2. Make a closure

   (define (mul x y) (* x y))
   (define (muln n) (lambda (x) (mul x n)))
   (define mul2 (muln 2))
   (define mul3 (muln 3))
   (assert (mul2 2) 4)
   (assert (mul3 3) 9)
   (assert (mul3 3.3) (* 3 3.3))
   

• Basic lisp forms like let, lambda, if, quote etc.
• Source file will be compiled to VM instructions. No bytecode format for instructions yet.
• Instruction will be executed by a stacked based virtual machine.
• Lexical scoping (aka Closure).
• Tail call optimize.
• A very inefficient implementation of call/cc (removed in master branch)

• Bytecode format.
• Marco system in like common lisp.
• RELP.
• A register based virtual machine.