4 ms·
> You can fake it anywhere else with more or less work That doesn't make sense, because there's no way to twist it. It's more work and duplication. I want macr
by sjs 15y ago
> You can fake it anywhere else with more or less work
That doesn't make sense, because there's no way to twist it. It's more work and duplication. I want macros all the time in JavaScript and that is a pretty flexible and dynamic language.
Most of Lisp's other features are common now. Macros are still a big one but you don't need them every day. Lisp has powerful exception handling but I'd rather have Erlang style error handling and recovery.
Lisp's draw is waning but only because our languages are lispy in ways that really matter. We have dynamic, garbage collection languages with REPLs and built in high level data structures that are even better because we have native syntax for them. I don't want to keep track of N different kinds of assoc lists... and I really like Lisp.
- vseloved 15y ago> Most of Lisp's other features are common now. Special variables, restarts and flexible reader are some of the basic features, that are not only uncommon, but, actually, unseen in any other language. Just to name a few.
- sjs 15y agoThanks, I knew I'd miss some since I'm only an amateur Lisp hacker. Factor has a cool and flexible reader too but it's pretty far from mainstream.
- spooneybarger 15y agoI assume when you say 'Lisp has powerful exception handling' you are referring to Common Lisp's conditions.
- sjs 15y agoThere's nothing inherently Lispy about conditions and restarts but they are often cited as one of "Lisp"'s strengths. Sorry for continuing to conflate Lisp the concept with CL.