sicp-info VS sicp-html-original

Related, in 2001 or earlier, Lytha Ayth somehow converted the HTML edition of SICP to GNU TeXinfo, so that it could be used on computers that couldn't manage a Web browser and running Scheme at the same time:

https://www.neilvandyke.org/sicp-texi/

As part of this, they redrew the figures in SICP as ASCII art (not as something like TeX figures), which I guess made sense for those requirements. Though today I like the idea of using proper markup for figures.

Texinfo version of SICP: https://www.neilvandyke.org/sicp-texi/

If you just need the text, such as for a research project, the original unofficial Texinfo version of SICP might be easier than going from the HTML version: https://www.neilvandyke.org/sicp-texi/

Lytha Ayth's Texinfo conversion of SICP (plus new ASCII art, to be usable on low-powered computers that couldn't handle the HTML well) was done in 2001 or earlier.

I suspect Ayth's version was consistent with the original intent of the authors and MIT Press in releasing the HTML version -- which seemed to be "we're making this rough Web hypertext free, or you can buy the paper book". (One of the SICP authors told me Ayth's Texinfo version was "probably a good thing".)

BTW, since then, I've noticed some people have made and hosted versions that started with Ayth's Texinfo, including redrawing figures as non-ASCII, and providing polished "camera ready" PDF. I don't know what the SICP authors or publisher think about those. The SICP authors are gems, and SICP was an early textbook to be released free for the Web, with hypertext and wide accessibility, helping set precedent for others. I'd be very sad if anyone eventually regrets that (e.g., maybe the publisher trying to maximize revenue so they can fund more great books).

I think I found it here and here. Will definitely try it out. The HTML format referenced is also very nice, much nicer than the "official" SICP HTML format version.