SML is a "functional programming" language. The reference manual that is included in the SML 75 distribution contains this introduction ...
Our implementation adheres closely to the Standard ML language definition ["The Definition of Standard ML, version 3", by Robert Harper, Robin Milner, and Mads Tofte, technical report ECS-LFCS-89-81, Dept. of Computer Science, Univ. of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9~3JZ Scotland.] except that the library of built-in functions is larger and better organized.
January 2002 -- SMLNJ 110.0.7 is available on ieng9. It is installed under:
/software/nonrdist/smlnj
After logging in, issue the "prep smlnj" command in each window from which you will be issuing smlnj commands:
% prep smlnj
[smlnj_110.0.7] ieng9_1% sml
To exit:
control-D
Documentation and current distributions for Unix or Windows can be acquired from the Standard ML of New Jersywebsite.