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XCVB (replacement for Common Lisp's ASDF)

• gruseom 18y ago
  I use ASDF because it works and everyone uses it. But this monstrosity still makes me wince every time I see it, or worse, have to type it, or worse still, have to explain it and then feel compelled to apologize for it: (asdf:operate 'asdf:load-op :some-package) It's somehow emblematic of a larger (cultural, or something) issue too. So a replacement for ASDF is probably a good idea, but it's the sort of thing that won't get off the ground before it's mature, and might have a hard time getting adopted even then. ASDF is just good enough, or rather just not bad enough. Edit: there are other attempts at this too, like http://mudballs.com http://mudballs.com.
  • dhess 18y ago
    Zach Beane has a nice wrapper for the asdf:operate nonsense on various CL implementations: http://xach.livejournal.com/191187.html http://xach.livejournal.com/191187.html
    • gruseom 18y ago
      Great! Now what would it take to actually get that added to ASDF?
  • ken 18y ago
    Yes and no. There are cultural issues that cause Lispers to build not "a package system" but "a (complex) meta-system with which you can build your own package system", but I think there's still a recognition that the situation today is pretty lousy. It sure seems like we've had ASDF forever, but it only dates to late-2002 -- before that, we had mk-defsystem (which was even worse). I think ASDF will turn out to be one of those things that people only used because we had no alternative. If XCVB is good, ASDF could die a very quick death.