4 ms·

You guys should update to emacs 1000 (vim)

yjftsjthsd-h 5y ago
vim isn't even the same class of tool; vim is a text editor, emacs is a lisp environment that implemented text editing (in between an email client, web browser, git frontend, task tracker, ...). And I say that as a vim user.
- User23 5y ago
  In a lot of ways, GNU Emacs is the last life raft from the MIT AI Lab and its Lisp Machines. I'd still love to see a Linux/SBCL Lisp Machine. I wonder to what extent such a thing is possible. On another tangent, I'd love to see an Elisp compatibility package for Common Lisp, which would essentially be GNU Emacs with the C bits replaced with Common Lisp.
  - int_19h 5y ago
    Isn't the whole point of a Lisp Machine that it's architecturally optimized for Lisp (rather than C, which is what underpins all of the modern Unix/Linux infrastructure)?
    - User23 5y ago
      That’s my understanding too, which is why I wondered to what extent it’s possible. SBCL produces performant code so I am hopeful an efficient Lisp Machine could be built on x64 hardware.
      - int_19h 5y ago
        But if you build it on x64 hardware, then it wouldn't be a Lisp Machine pretty much by definition, no? Or do you mean a machine that boots into Lisp, effectively using it as the OS, regardless of hardware?
        User23 5y ago
        Yeah, that's what I had in mind. With a similar userspace to the old Lisp Machines, but using the vast Linux driver ecosystem. SBCL already does an acceptable job producing x64 machine code.
        int_19h 5y ago
        If it can be statically linked, it seems like you should be able to just symlink the SBCL binary to /sbin/init (or use init= boot param).
  - jhgb 5y ago
    > In a lot of ways, GNU Emacs is the last life raft from the MIT AI Lab and its Lisp Machines. In that case it needs better menus and GUI elements.
    - User23 5y ago
      I couldn’t agree more. In many ways human computer interface has regressed. Most users have no idea and those that do learn to stop talking about it. The correct answer to keyboard or mouse is, to a first approximation, both.

vim isn't even the same class of tool; vim is a text editor, emacs is a lisp environment that implemented text editing (in between an email client, web browser, git frontend, task tracker, ...). And I say that as a vim user.

User23 5y ago
In a lot of ways, GNU Emacs is the last life raft from the MIT AI Lab and its Lisp Machines. I'd still love to see a Linux/SBCL Lisp Machine. I wonder to what extent such a thing is possible. On another tangent, I'd love to see an Elisp compatibility package for Common Lisp, which would essentially be GNU Emacs with the C bits replaced with Common Lisp.
- int_19h 5y ago
  Isn't the whole point of a Lisp Machine that it's architecturally optimized for Lisp (rather than C, which is what underpins all of the modern Unix/Linux infrastructure)?
  - User23 5y ago
    That’s my understanding too, which is why I wondered to what extent it’s possible. SBCL produces performant code so I am hopeful an efficient Lisp Machine could be built on x64 hardware.
    - int_19h 5y ago
      But if you build it on x64 hardware, then it wouldn't be a Lisp Machine pretty much by definition, no? Or do you mean a machine that boots into Lisp, effectively using it as the OS, regardless of hardware?
      - User23 5y ago
        Yeah, that's what I had in mind. With a similar userspace to the old Lisp Machines, but using the vast Linux driver ecosystem. SBCL already does an acceptable job producing x64 machine code.
        int_19h 5y ago
        If it can be statically linked, it seems like you should be able to just symlink the SBCL binary to /sbin/init (or use init= boot param).
- jhgb 5y ago
  > In a lot of ways, GNU Emacs is the last life raft from the MIT AI Lab and its Lisp Machines. In that case it needs better menus and GUI elements.
  - User23 5y ago
    I couldn’t agree more. In many ways human computer interface has regressed. Most users have no idea and those that do learn to stop talking about it. The correct answer to keyboard or mouse is, to a first approximation, both.