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I've read most of it too, but not sure it shows a lot of lisp's strengths. A lot of the programs I read them over and thought that I could do the same thing in

I've read most of it too, but not sure it shows a lot of lisp's strengths. A lot of the programs I read them over and thought that I could do the same thing in significantly less Python code. I'm not sure what should be fixed if anything though.

baldfat 9y ago
> A lot of the programs I read them over and thought that I could do the same thing in significantly less Python code. My racket code is usually many time smaller then my Python code. The nice thing about Racket/Lisp is you can just make your own tools when in Python you copy thousands of lines of code into a one line code. The real fix that Lisp/Racket gives over Python is deployment.
- throwaway7645 9y ago
  Agreed on deployment.
moogey 9y ago
I read through LoL, and then most of Clojure for the Brave and True. I think one of LoL's strong points is that it only ever explains things in the domain of Lisp. The Clojure book kept showing samples of what you were doing in other languages, and it kind of broke my initial ability to get in the mindset.
flavio81 9y ago
that I could do the same thing in significantly less Python code I have extensive experience with Python and i also know Common Lisp (though i'm far from being an expert there.) You can definitely write more concise code in Lisp. Not only more concise, but also easier to read, although Python is also very good at readability too. (For example, I love the fact that Python allows you to use named parameters, and when I learnt Common Lisp, i sighed with relief upon finding out you can do the same in CL.) But once you enter the world of macros, is where you realize the possibilities go far beyond what you can do with Python. Not to mention CLOS (the Common Lisp Object System): after reading about CLOS, OOP haters might probably want to embrace OOP again, and OOP fans will get delighted at the enormous possibilities and freedom brought by that object system. In short, Lisp is a far more powerful language than Python and also allows for more concise code, particularly if your system is complex. However, I should say that Python is far easier to learn and well featured, so that's what I recommend beginners to learn first.

baldfat 9y ago

> A lot of the programs I read them over and thought that I could do the same thing in significantly less Python code. My racket code is usually many time smaller then my Python code. The nice thing about Racket/Lisp is you can just make your own tools when in Python you copy thousands of lines of code into a one line code. The real fix that Lisp/Racket gives over Python is deployment.

throwaway7645 9y ago
Agreed on deployment.

moogey 9y ago

I read through LoL, and then most of Clojure for the Brave and True. I think one of LoL's strong points is that it only ever explains things in the domain of Lisp. The Clojure book kept showing samples of what you were doing in other languages, and it kind of broke my initial ability to get in the mindset.

flavio81 9y ago

that I could do the same thing in significantly less Python code I have extensive experience with Python and i also know Common Lisp (though i'm far from being an expert there.) You can definitely write more concise code in Lisp. Not only more concise, but also easier to read, although Python is also very good at readability too. (For example, I love the fact that Python allows you to use named parameters, and when I learnt Common Lisp, i sighed with relief upon finding out you can do the same in CL.) But once you enter the world of macros, is where you realize the possibilities go far beyond what you can do with Python. Not to mention CLOS (the Common Lisp Object System): after reading about CLOS, OOP haters might probably want to embrace OOP again, and OOP fans will get delighted at the enormous possibilities and freedom brought by that object system. In short, Lisp is a far more powerful language than Python and also allows for more concise code, particularly if your system is complex. However, I should say that Python is far easier to learn and well featured, so that's what I recommend beginners to learn first.