Yeah, this was frustrating to me as well. oconnore's point is valid, in that CL is not the only language to behave this way --- but Java (his example) is more u

Yeah, this was frustrating to me as well. oconnore's point is valid, in that CL is not the only language to behave this way --- but Java (his example) is more up front about it :) (that is to say, learning Java, you learn this limitation quickly, and it's not a problem because most machines have a JRE; CL you might go some distance before you have to look up what's going on, and once you do you realize how few machines have a CL). Don't get me wrong, I still love me some common lisp --- but I agree with Britton that the issue shouldn't be dismissed as meaningless.