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I like LISP, but I wouldn't say I'm an evangelist. Here's my 2 cents for why LISP has such a following. 1. LISP is easy to start with if you're not a programme

I like LISP, but I wouldn't say I'm an evangelist. Here's my 2 cents for why LISP has such a following. 1. LISP is easy to start with if you're not a programmer. There is very little syntax to get to grips with, and once you understand "everything is a list" it's super easy to expand out from there. 2. LISP really makes it easy to hack your way to a solution. With the REPL and the transparency of "code is data" model you can just start writing code and eventually get to a solution. You don't need to plan, or think about types, or deal with syntax errors. You just write your code and see it executed right there in the REPL. For my part, I love LISP when it's just me doing the coding, but once you start adding other peoples custom DSL macros or whatever the heck it becomes unwieldy. Basically, I love my LISP and hate other peoples LISP.

turtleyacht 2y ago
Once you get far enough to need external dependencies, do you use your work as a library in another language or rewrite it? http://www.winestockwebdesign.com/Essays/Lisp_Curse.html http://www.winestockwebdesign.com/Essays/Lisp_Curse.html
- anthk 2y ago
  QuickLisp solves most of the issues. Quiop and closer-mop if you want a universal CLOS. Scheme is not Common Lisp, it's kinda the opposite. It comes with batteries included and MCClim is the defacto GUI for it. >Stuck with Emacs [from the URL] Well, Lem tries to be Emacs for Common Lisp, but without having to think on two Lisp languages (albeit closely related) at once. Once you have a REPL, autocomplete and some docstring looking up tool, you are god.
  - turtleyacht 2y ago
    Good point. I neglected to consider standard libraries (stdlib) at the time. If those are allowed, then a lot more can be done with one's code without reaching much farther. Thank-you.
    - anthk 2y ago
      The 'stdlib' in CL is huge. Scheme is the minimal one. Almost like comparing sh with zsh.

turtleyacht 2y ago

Once you get far enough to need external dependencies, do you use your work as a library in another language or rewrite it? http://www.winestockwebdesign.com/Essays/Lisp_Curse.html http://www.winestockwebdesign.com/Essays/Lisp_Curse.html

anthk 2y ago
QuickLisp solves most of the issues. Quiop and closer-mop if you want a universal CLOS. Scheme is not Common Lisp, it's kinda the opposite. It comes with batteries included and MCClim is the defacto GUI for it. >Stuck with Emacs [from the URL] Well, Lem tries to be Emacs for Common Lisp, but without having to think on two Lisp languages (albeit closely related) at once. Once you have a REPL, autocomplete and some docstring looking up tool, you are god.
- turtleyacht 2y ago
  Good point. I neglected to consider standard libraries (stdlib) at the time. If those are allowed, then a lot more can be done with one's code without reaching much farther. Thank-you.
  - anthk 2y ago
    The 'stdlib' in CL is huge. Scheme is the minimal one. Almost like comparing sh with zsh.