WTF is going on with R7RS Large? 2026 edition
The Scheme programming language, born in a sexist environment at MIT, has carried the legacy of its origins into the free software movement. The old steering committee, responsible for chartering the Scheme working group, proved ineffective in addressing the group's evolving needs. The author became Scheme chair but had to resign due to the committee's inability to make necessary revisions to the charter.
SRFI 261, finalized in parallel, was criticized for making incompatible amendments to previous SRFIs without author consent, affecting the SRFI metadata database. Arthur Gleckler, the only SRFI editor since 2015, ignored the author's concerns and refused to provide a clear answer, further escalating tensions. As the election for the new steering committee approached, the author resigned, warning others to avoid involvement with Gleckler if he were elected, citing his refusal to address the issue.
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