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GNU Emacs is a Lisp implementation with an abstraction layer over the hardware and OS. I would like to reserve "Lisp Machine" to computers with an actual Lisp o

by lispm 2y ago

GNU Emacs is a Lisp implementation with an abstraction layer over the hardware and OS. I would like to reserve "Lisp Machine" to computers with an actual Lisp operating system or emulations of those.

iLemming 2y ago
Of course. I understand that calling Emacs "a Lisp Machine" is quite a stretch, but due to the lack of any actual prominent hardware-based Lisp machines these days, I think it is a permissible simplification for the orange-site discussions. Yet it is, indeed, an important clarification, I appreciate it.
- lispm 2y ago
  There are two open source emulators of actual Lisp Machines I would recommend: Interlisp-D/Medley: https://interlisp.org https://interlisp.org MIT CADR: https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/ https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/ These run an actual Lisp operating system.
  - iLemming 2y ago
    These are interesting from historical educational point of interest, but they rather don't have practical use for modern software development, do they?
    - lispm 2y ago
      It's to keep the dream alive.