3 ms·

Don't fool yourself- if your programming language has an eval() function, you are writing in Lisp and you are a Lisp programmer now. Embrace it! All joking as

Don't fool yourself- if your programming language has an eval() function, you are writing in Lisp and you are a Lisp programmer now. Embrace it! All joking aside, I do think Python is pretty handy.

tmtvl 4y ago
Oh no, Lisp is so much more powerful. For example you can update the definition of a class in a running system and update all existing instances of that class. When an error occurs you can inspect local variables in any of the stack frames and execute commands in them. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, Lisp is, as far as I know, without equal in terms of power.
- progval 4y ago
  > you can update the definition of a class in a running system and update all existing instances of that class Like this? >>> class MyClass: ... attr = 0 ... >>> my_object = MyClass() >>> MyClass.attr = 42 >>> my_object.attr 42 >>> MyClass.method = lambda self: self.attr >>> my_object.method() 42 > When an error occurs you can inspect local variables in any of the stack frames and execute commands in them What is the difference with https://lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/pythons-disappointing-superpowers/#werkzeugs-interactive-debugger https://lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/pythons-disappointing-sup... ?
  - troutpanda 4y ago
    To Lispers, Python's hyperpowers (reflection and dynamic typing) are just regular Lisp business. Lisp's strength lies exactly in how convenient doing metaprogramming is in Lisp. There are probably some subtleties and differences in how powerful both systems are (can't say more, I don't know how powerful python's metaprogramming is), but just know that Lisp has practically no limit in how you can extend the language.
  - lispm 4y ago
    Adding/changing/removing slots & methods. But also adding/removing superclasses -> which causes changes in existing objects. Having functions called when an object changes, etc. That's old in CLOS, end 80s. No wonder if some other dynamic languages by now have similar features.

Don't fool yourself- if your programming language has an eval() function, you are writing in Lisp and you are a Lisp programmer now. Embrace it! All joking aside, I do think Python is pretty handy.

tmtvl 4y ago

Oh no, Lisp is so much more powerful. For example you can update the definition of a class in a running system and update all existing instances of that class. When an error occurs you can inspect local variables in any of the stack frames and execute commands in them. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, Lisp is, as far as I know, without equal in terms of power.

progval 4y ago
> you can update the definition of a class in a running system and update all existing instances of that class Like this? >>> class MyClass: ... attr = 0 ... >>> my_object = MyClass() >>> MyClass.attr = 42 >>> my_object.attr 42 >>> MyClass.method = lambda self: self.attr >>> my_object.method() 42 > When an error occurs you can inspect local variables in any of the stack frames and execute commands in them What is the difference with https://lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/pythons-disappointing-superpowers/#werkzeugs-interactive-debugger https://lukeplant.me.uk/blog/posts/pythons-disappointing-sup... ?
- troutpanda 4y ago
  To Lispers, Python's hyperpowers (reflection and dynamic typing) are just regular Lisp business. Lisp's strength lies exactly in how convenient doing metaprogramming is in Lisp. There are probably some subtleties and differences in how powerful both systems are (can't say more, I don't know how powerful python's metaprogramming is), but just know that Lisp has practically no limit in how you can extend the language.
- lispm 4y ago
  Adding/changing/removing slots & methods. But also adding/removing superclasses -> which causes changes in existing objects. Having functions called when an object changes, etc. That's old in CLOS, end 80s. No wonder if some other dynamic languages by now have similar features.