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I really don't get the feeling that iRobot uses Lisp anymore, and espeically not extensively. Most of their robotics software engineer jobs advertise C/C++. On

by bmitc 5y ago

I really don't get the feeling that iRobot uses Lisp anymore, and espeically not extensively. Most of their robotics software engineer jobs advertise C/C++. On the rare occasion I've seen Lisp mentioned, it was for a junior role and sounded like it was only to use the existing dialect (I'm assuming for older robots). My gut feeling is that they have a dialect but no longer actively develop it and potentially no longer use it for newer robots. Plus, it's probably more of a C-like Lisp. A lot of these companies on this list do not actively use Lisp or even exist anymore. One company that is left off the list is 2Is Inc. They use Common Lisp for everything and actively do so.

eatonphil 5y ago
> One company that is left off the list is 2Is Inc. They use Common Lisp for everything and actively do so. Anything recent you can point at to authoritatively show they still use Common Lisp? I do see their site says: > programming using Lisp and object database technology. https://2is-inc.com/common-positions.html https://2is-inc.com/common-positions.html But they also don't have this position open at the moment. And saying "Lisp" is a little vague. I see Franz Inc news about 2Is Inc from as recent as 2015 but no more recent than that that clearly shows 2Is Inc still uses Common Lisp.
- bmitc 5y ago
  I interviewed there a few years ago (one of the most enjoyable interviews I've had). For example, I was asked, by the CEO, "what are signs that we'll know you're stressed?". They definitely use Allegro Common Lisp for everything they can except for some JavaScript frameworks for new front end work, if I remember correctly on the latter part. There were zero hints they'd move away from Common Lisp. They don't mind if you don't know Lisp or even programming, so that's probably why it's understated in their job description. They prefer just hiring smart people and training them. A lot of people there studied math, physics, and even liberal arts. This is the right way that very few do. The thing with this list is that it is just extremely outdated. It misses a few that actually use a Lisp and lists a lot that just isn't up to date. I've tried very hard to get a Lisp job. They are exceedingly rare and nearly nonexistent. There's much better chances with Clojure and Elixir.
bombcar 5y ago
Lisp seems like it’s incredibly powerful in the hand of a wizard but once the company gets past a certain size they’ve hired every lisp programmer in the world and move to a more mainstream language.
- travisgriggs 5y ago
  I experienced this in the Smalltalk world years ago as well. Languages/environments are tools. They amplify what an individual can do when creating. High powered languages allow high powered people to write cooler code. Average programmers just write more average programs. Spaghetti programmers just make more spaghetti.
  - bombcar 5y ago
    And many of the new languages are designed around removing footguns for the spaghetti chefs I feel. Of course everyone thinks they’re a superstar, but they’re probably not. I know I ain’t.
    - travisgriggs 5y ago
      I don’t think I’m a superstar. I do find the complexities created by the “foot gun inhibitors” limit creativity and simplicity. Every time Kotlin/Swift add a new “feature” I feel like I’m living in a sort of Harrison Bergeron (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron) for programmers. I spend the same time fixing bugs in these “safer” languages as I do/did in Python/Smalltalk/Elixir.

by bmitc 5y ago

eatonphil 5y ago

> One company that is left off the list is 2Is Inc. They use Common Lisp for everything and actively do so. Anything recent you can point at to authoritatively show they still use Common Lisp? I do see their site says: > programming using Lisp and object database technology. https://2is-inc.com/common-positions.html https://2is-inc.com/common-positions.html But they also don't have this position open at the moment. And saying "Lisp" is a little vague. I see Franz Inc news about 2Is Inc from as recent as 2015 but no more recent than that that clearly shows 2Is Inc still uses Common Lisp.

bmitc 5y ago
I interviewed there a few years ago (one of the most enjoyable interviews I've had). For example, I was asked, by the CEO, "what are signs that we'll know you're stressed?". They definitely use Allegro Common Lisp for everything they can except for some JavaScript frameworks for new front end work, if I remember correctly on the latter part. There were zero hints they'd move away from Common Lisp. They don't mind if you don't know Lisp or even programming, so that's probably why it's understated in their job description. They prefer just hiring smart people and training them. A lot of people there studied math, physics, and even liberal arts. This is the right way that very few do. The thing with this list is that it is just extremely outdated. It misses a few that actually use a Lisp and lists a lot that just isn't up to date. I've tried very hard to get a Lisp job. They are exceedingly rare and nearly nonexistent. There's much better chances with Clojure and Elixir.

bombcar 5y ago

Lisp seems like it’s incredibly powerful in the hand of a wizard but once the company gets past a certain size they’ve hired every lisp programmer in the world and move to a more mainstream language.

travisgriggs 5y ago
I experienced this in the Smalltalk world years ago as well. Languages/environments are tools. They amplify what an individual can do when creating. High powered languages allow high powered people to write cooler code. Average programmers just write more average programs. Spaghetti programmers just make more spaghetti.
- bombcar 5y ago
  And many of the new languages are designed around removing footguns for the spaghetti chefs I feel. Of course everyone thinks they’re a superstar, but they’re probably not. I know I ain’t.
  - travisgriggs 5y ago
    I don’t think I’m a superstar. I do find the complexities created by the “foot gun inhibitors” limit creativity and simplicity. Every time Kotlin/Swift add a new “feature” I feel like I’m living in a sort of Harrison Bergeron (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron) for programmers. I spend the same time fixing bugs in these “safer” languages as I do/did in Python/Smalltalk/Elixir.