sml Getting started with sml Installation
Example
There is a dozen implementations of Standard ML. MLton produces very optimized code, but has no REPL. SML/NJ is the most widely used, but has slightly difficult error messages for learning purposes. Moscow ML and Poly/ML are easy to get started with, but don't support the .mlb package format. That isn't essential for getting started, though.
Here are instructions for installing each of SML/NJ, Moscow ML and Poly/ML divided by operating system.
On Windows
SML/NJ:
- Go to http://www.smlnj.org/dist/working/ and find the latest release, e.g. 110.80 Distribution Files.
- Scroll down and find the MS Windows Installer, e.g. smlnj-110.80.msi. Run the installer.
- You now have a REPL in e.g.
C:\Program Files (x86)\SML NJ\bin\sml.bat.
Moscow ML:
- Go to http://mosml.org/ and click "Download Win. Installer". Run the installer.
- You now have a REPL in e.g.
C:\Program Files (x86)\mosml\bin\mosml.exe.
Using Homebrew On MacOS
SML/NJ:
- Run
brew install smlnjas your own user. Test REPL withsmlnj.
Moscow ML:
- Go to http://mosml.org/ and click "Download PKG File". Run the installer.
- Missing... Test REPL how? Is it in
$PATHnow?
On Ubuntu / Debian Linux
SML/NJ:
- Run
sudo apt-get install smlnjas the super user. Test REPL withsmlnj.
Moscow ML:
-
(Ubuntu) Add the PPA as the super user. Test REPL with
mosml.sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kflarsen/mosml sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install mosml
Adding readline support
In order to be able to use the arrow keys to navigate lines that were previously typed into the REPL, most of the SML compilers can benefit from the program rlwrap. Using Homebrew on MacOS, install this by brew install rlwrap, and on Ubuntu / Debian Linux, install this by sudo apt-get install rlwrap. Then in the terminal, try the following:
alias mosml='rlwrap mosml -P full'
alias sml='rlwrap sml'
alias poly='rlwrap poly'
These aliases can be added to e.g. your ~/.bashrc so they work by default.
The arrows key should now work better.
