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Lisp always uses prefix operator symbols. something like { ... } would be (progn ...) . Thus when one reads Lisp, one doesn't look that much for character synta
by lispm 6y ago
Lisp always uses prefix operator symbols. something like { ... } would be (progn ...) . Thus when one reads Lisp, one doesn't look that much for character syntax, but for operator names and list structure layout.
Parentheses are there, because s-expression syntax is not only used for syntax for nested lists, but also for representing code as s-expressions. C / C++ does not have that feature.
These s-expressions in Lisp are data. This means one can also write programs which create programs as data - not as text, but as list structures.
- MaxBarraclough 6y ago> when one reads Lisp, one doesn't look that much for character syntax, but for operator names and list structure layout. Right, but this boils down to just getting used to Lisp. > also for representing code as s-expressions. C / C++ does not have that feature. Sure, I know enough Lisp to understand that, but the point about syntax stands. Ultimately I think it's just a matter of acclimatisation. C++, Lisp, and Forth, are different enough that if you only know one or two of the languages, you'll likely find the third to be an unreadable mess.