How can I set up a functional instance of Standard ML on my Mac?

edit

To set up Standard ML on your Mac, you will need to follow these basic steps:

1. Install a Standard ML compiler (such as the MLton compiler) by downloading it from the official website.
2. Install a text editor, such as TextWrangler or Sublime Text, to edit your Standard ML code.
3. Set up your development environment by configuring your text editor to recognize Standard ML syntax highlighting and auto-completion.
4. Optionally, you can install additional tools, libraries, or packages that will make your development process easier or more efficient.

Here is a more detailed step-by-step guide on how to set up a functional instance of Standard ML on your Mac:

1. Install a Standard ML compiler:

   a. Go to the MLton website (https://mlton.org/) and download the latest stable version of the MLton compiler for Mac OS X.

   b. Once you’ve downloaded the MLton package, open the .dmg file, and run the installer by following the instructions provided.

2. Install a text editor:

   a. Download and install your preferred text editor from the official website, such as TextWrangler or Sublime Text.

   b. Open your text editor and create a new file with the ".sml" file extension. This file will serve as your Standard ML source code file.

3. Set up your development environment:

   a. Configure your text editor to recognize Standard ML syntax highlighting and auto-completion. To do this, visit the editor’s preferences and extensions settings and check if there is a plug-in or extension that supports Standard ML.

   b. Install the SML-NJ package (Standard ML of New Jersey), which is an interactive, batch-mode compiler and environment for developing and running Standard ML programs, by visiting https://www.smlnj.org/ and downloading the Mac OS X version.

   c. Once you've downloaded the SML-NJ package, open the .dmg file, and run the installer by following the instructions provided.

4. Optionally, install additional tools and packages:

   a. Install a package manager, such as MacPorts or Homebrew, to easily manage and install additional tools and dependencies.

   b. Install additional Standard ML libraries and packages using the package manager, such as Basis Library, Poly/ML, or MLKit.

By following these steps, you should have a functional instance of Standard ML set up on your Mac that is ready for development and testing.