4 ms·

As a pretty experienced programmer, who make a living by writing code for almost 10 year(with a CS master degree), I would like to say something to new learner

by zsh_89 3y ago

As a pretty experienced programmer, who make a living by writing code for almost 10 year(with a CS master degree), I would like to say something to new learners of CS who need making money by CS skill in the future: + almost everything related with LISP is fun + but they have VERY limited use in industry, for very good reason; + you should try spend at least same amount time (as on LISP topic) to learn something like leetcode(or even higher level of competitive programming, which improve your skill of converting your idea to code fast and basic math thinking; useful in interview), job-oriented CS book. You'll be a better problem-solver and more ready in job market. + If you're very sure you will be financially OK, just learn anything you like and ignore this message.

waffletower 3y ago
I think there are many people reading this thread who develop using a variety of Lisp as their primary language and are more than adequately compensated financially, and yes, in 2023.
- zsh_89 3y ago
  Yes I completely agree. Yet I insist that it is responsible to clearly deliver that message that the numbers of applications/jobs are NOT at the same magnitude. Personally I've spent many hours on LISP related topic; I enjoyed the time; I recommend it as a low priority interesting topic. Things like develop a working distributed KV store(MIT 6.824), solid 1000+hours on competitive programming, those skill&knowledge are not only beautiful&interesting, but also make a person a better practical problem solver.
glonq 3y ago
I will argue against your first point ;) ...but otherwise pretty much agree. I learned LISP in college, way back when expert systems were the future of AI. The worst thing that I could probaby do professionally is to write something in LISP that needs to be adopted and maintained by somebody else in the future.
dunefox 3y ago
> + but they have VERY limited use in industry, for very good reason; And what would these very good reasons be? inb4 "only for single programmers", brackets are difficult for normal programmers, macros can't be understood by mortals, and other non-issues that have been discussed to death.
vindarel 3y ago
Common Lisp has many industrial uses though. (https://github.com/azzamsa/awesome-lisp-companies/ https://github.com/azzamsa/awesome-lisp-companies/ https://lisp-lang.org/success/ https://lisp-lang.org/success/ http://www.lispworks.com/success-stories/index.html http://www.lispworks.com/success-stories/index.html such as https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/moore/acl2/ https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/moore/acl2/ (theorem prover used by big corp©) https://allegrograph.com/press_room/barefoot-networks-uses-franzs-allegro-cl-to-drive-artificial-intelligence-in-networks/ https://allegrograph.com/press_room/barefoot-networks-uses-f... (Intel programmable chip) quantum compilers https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32741928 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32741928 etc, etc, etc)

by zsh_89 3y ago

waffletower 3y ago

I think there are many people reading this thread who develop using a variety of Lisp as their primary language and are more than adequately compensated financially, and yes, in 2023.

zsh_89 3y ago
Yes I completely agree. Yet I insist that it is responsible to clearly deliver that message that the numbers of applications/jobs are NOT at the same magnitude. Personally I've spent many hours on LISP related topic; I enjoyed the time; I recommend it as a low priority interesting topic. Things like develop a working distributed KV store(MIT 6.824), solid 1000+hours on competitive programming, those skill&knowledge are not only beautiful&interesting, but also make a person a better practical problem solver.

glonq 3y ago

I will argue against your first point ;) ...but otherwise pretty much agree. I learned LISP in college, way back when expert systems were the future of AI. The worst thing that I could probaby do professionally is to write something in LISP that needs to be adopted and maintained by somebody else in the future.

dunefox 3y ago

> + but they have VERY limited use in industry, for very good reason; And what would these very good reasons be? inb4 "only for single programmers", brackets are difficult for normal programmers, macros can't be understood by mortals, and other non-issues that have been discussed to death.

vindarel 3y ago

Common Lisp has many industrial uses though. (https://github.com/azzamsa/awesome-lisp-companies/ https://github.com/azzamsa/awesome-lisp-companies/ https://lisp-lang.org/success/ https://lisp-lang.org/success/ http://www.lispworks.com/success-stories/index.html http://www.lispworks.com/success-stories/index.html such as https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/moore/acl2/ https://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/moore/acl2/ (theorem prover used by big corp©) https://allegrograph.com/press_room/barefoot-networks-uses-franzs-allegro-cl-to-drive-artificial-intelligence-in-networks/ https://allegrograph.com/press_room/barefoot-networks-uses-f... (Intel programmable chip) quantum compilers https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32741928 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32741928 etc, etc, etc)