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Common Lisp really IS the best programming language in the world, though. This is a statement of fact. We could do a better job of proving it and demonstrating

Common Lisp really IS the best programming language in the world, though. This is a statement of fact. We could do a better job of proving it and demonstrating it to the world, and it would be easier to do it faster with funding.

fermienrico 6y ago
I wish you all the best convincing people its the best language in the world.
- Hexstream 6y ago
  Thank you. I am aiming to help make Common Lisp (or a close descendant) a top 5 programming language by 2040. I believe this is eminently achievable given proper approaches, and funding me would certainly help towards that goal. https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1213964177657794577 https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1213964177657794577
Rochus 6y ago
"Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material." (Alan Kay, see e.g. http://www.paulgraham.com/quotes.html?viewfullsite=1 http://www.paulgraham.com/quotes.html?viewfullsite=1). I first used Lisp more than thirty years ago (back then on the VAX), but I still don't understand why it is supposed to be the "best programming language" (as some people continue to claim). It is not even obvious to me how to recognize a programming language as the "best" one. The advantage of the simple syntax is paid with several disadvantages. Praising Lisp for its simple syntax is like praising a protein for its simple structure consisting only of a chain of amino acids.
- Hexstream 6y ago
  Simple syntax is just one of countless crucial features. Here is just a trivial sample: https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1334220825281654785 https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1334220825281654785 Fairly extensive advocacy pieces already exist, and we need even more sophisticated ones, and better infrastructure overall, and it would be much easier to do that with proper funding.
  - Rochus 6y ago
    It does not help to "prove" an assertion by making further unsubstantiated assertions. Why is Lisp the "best programming language"? How can we recognize a programming language as the "best" one at all? Why do "we need even more sophisticated" extensive advocacy pieces? What "better infrastructure" is required for what purpose?
    - Hexstream 6y ago
      > It does not help to "prove" an assertion by making further unsubstantiated assertions. Exactly, so stop doing that, then. Including sealioning. > Why is Lisp the "best programming language"? First, the best programming language is Common Lisp, not just any Lisp. Second, I already gave hints towards answering your question above, but you do have to do your homework if you want to even have a chance at understanding. > How can we recognize a programming language as the "best" one at all? Easily, if you understand the best programming language and see that all others are blub. > Why do "we need even more sophisticated" extensive advocacy pieces? Because then we can just point non-believers like you at it to automatically win all arguments. > What "better infrastructure" is required for what purpose? Have you even read the Common Lisp Revival 2020 Fundraiser pitch? I encourage everyone to do so, and urgently. https://github.com/sponsors/Hexstream https://github.com/sponsors/Hexstream
      - Rochus 6y ago
        Is this in all seriousness your answer to the questions? And yes, I looked through your rather chaotic pitch.
        Hexstream 6y ago
        It is chaotic, I'll give you that. This is a direct reflection of the chaotic state of the Common Lisp community and of all the hard work that is going to be required to bring it to a state of dignity. I am actively working on bringing about this change, and although I am already fairly effective despite the constant and increasingly blatant sabotage and almost total lack of funding, I would be quite a bit more effective with at least some minimal funding. For instance, 1000$/month would be effectively infinite money for me at this time. I'm not exactly asking for the moon here...

fermienrico 6y ago

I wish you all the best convincing people its the best language in the world.

Hexstream 6y ago
Thank you. I am aiming to help make Common Lisp (or a close descendant) a top 5 programming language by 2040. I believe this is eminently achievable given proper approaches, and funding me would certainly help towards that goal. https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1213964177657794577 https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1213964177657794577

Rochus 6y ago

"Lisp isn't a language, it's a building material." (Alan Kay, see e.g. http://www.paulgraham.com/quotes.html?viewfullsite=1 http://www.paulgraham.com/quotes.html?viewfullsite=1). I first used Lisp more than thirty years ago (back then on the VAX), but I still don't understand why it is supposed to be the "best programming language" (as some people continue to claim). It is not even obvious to me how to recognize a programming language as the "best" one. The advantage of the simple syntax is paid with several disadvantages. Praising Lisp for its simple syntax is like praising a protein for its simple structure consisting only of a chain of amino acids.

Hexstream 6y ago
Simple syntax is just one of countless crucial features. Here is just a trivial sample: https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1334220825281654785 https://twitter.com/HexstreamSoft/status/1334220825281654785 Fairly extensive advocacy pieces already exist, and we need even more sophisticated ones, and better infrastructure overall, and it would be much easier to do that with proper funding.
- Rochus 6y ago
  It does not help to "prove" an assertion by making further unsubstantiated assertions. Why is Lisp the "best programming language"? How can we recognize a programming language as the "best" one at all? Why do "we need even more sophisticated" extensive advocacy pieces? What "better infrastructure" is required for what purpose?
  - Hexstream 6y ago
    > It does not help to "prove" an assertion by making further unsubstantiated assertions. Exactly, so stop doing that, then. Including sealioning. > Why is Lisp the "best programming language"? First, the best programming language is Common Lisp, not just any Lisp. Second, I already gave hints towards answering your question above, but you do have to do your homework if you want to even have a chance at understanding. > How can we recognize a programming language as the "best" one at all? Easily, if you understand the best programming language and see that all others are blub. > Why do "we need even more sophisticated" extensive advocacy pieces? Because then we can just point non-believers like you at it to automatically win all arguments. > What "better infrastructure" is required for what purpose? Have you even read the Common Lisp Revival 2020 Fundraiser pitch? I encourage everyone to do so, and urgently. https://github.com/sponsors/Hexstream https://github.com/sponsors/Hexstream
    - Rochus 6y ago
      Is this in all seriousness your answer to the questions? And yes, I looked through your rather chaotic pitch.
      - Hexstream 6y ago
        It is chaotic, I'll give you that. This is a direct reflection of the chaotic state of the Common Lisp community and of all the hard work that is going to be required to bring it to a state of dignity. I am actively working on bringing about this change, and although I am already fairly effective despite the constant and increasingly blatant sabotage and almost total lack of funding, I would be quite a bit more effective with at least some minimal funding. For instance, 1000$/month would be effectively infinite money for me at this time. I'm not exactly asking for the moon here...