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> Lisp... doesn't really have syntax. Yes, it really does. Let me finish that chain of reasoning for you: S-expressions have syntax. Lisp is a subset of the s
by cwp 12y ago
> Lisp... doesn't really have syntax.
Yes, it really does. Let me finish that chain of reasoning for you:
S-expressions have syntax.
Lisp is a subset of the sexps.
Therefore, Lisp has syntax.
QED
Yes, Lisp has very simple syntax. Yes, it's neat that eval can be implemented in a few dozen lines of Lisp. But as a practical matter Lisp is a programming language like any other. This sort of mysticism does not encourage people to learn Lisp or help the ideas behind Lisp become more mainstream.
- AnimalMuppet 12y agoI believe that arh68's point was that Lisp doesn't have a syntax that is something different than the syntax of S-expressions. You're actually agreeing, but you're quibbling over the way it was stated.