Differences between version 6 and predecessor to the previous major change of CommonLisp.
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| Newer page: | version 6 | Last edited on Friday, September 12, 2003 7:02:42 pm | by GlynWebster | Revert |
| Older page: | version 3 | Last edited on Thursday, August 7, 2003 3:38:14 am | by AristotlePagaltzis | Revert |
@@ -1,14 +1,24 @@
-CommonLisp
aka ANSI Standard X3J13. A popular(?)
[LISP] dialect.
+Common Lisp
aka ANSI Standard X3J13. A popular [LISP] dialect.
+
+Two unique things that make Common Lisp tempting, if you can get over the funny syntax:
+*__The Common Lisp Object System__. Common Lisp appears to be the only language in common use that has [multiple dispatch | http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_dispatch].
+*__Macros__: with these you can create and use code generators and custom control structures with little fuss.
+
+Quote from Paul Graham's little essay ''[What Made Lisp Different | http://www.paulgraham.com/diff.html]'':
+
+;: ''9. The whole language always available. There is no real distinction between read-time, compile-time, and runtime. You can compile or run code while reading, read or run code while compiling, and read or compile code at runtime.''
+
+;: ''Running code at read-time lets users reprogram Lisp's syntax; running code at compile-time is the basis of macros; compiling at runtime is the basis of Lisp's use as an extension language in programs like Emacs; and reading at runtime enables programs to communicate using s-expressions, an idea recently reinvented as XML.''
!!Resources
* Websites
-** [http://www.lispworks.com/reference/HyperSpec/Front/index.htm] -- The CommonLisp
HyperSpec (the entire CL specification)
-** [http://www.cliki.net/index] -- CommonLisp
[Wiki]
+** [http://www.lispworks.com/reference/HyperSpec/Front/index.htm] -- ''
The Common Lisp !
HyperSpec''
(the entire CL specification)
+** [http://www.cliki.net/index] -- Common Lisp
[Wiki | WikiWikiWeb
]
** [http://www.alu.org/alu/home] -- Association of Lisp Users
* Books
-** [http://www.paulgraham.com/onlisp.html] -- OnLisp
by PaulGraham
-** [http://psg.com/~dlamkins/sl/contents.html] -- SuccessfulLisp
by DavidLamkins
+** [http://www.paulgraham.com/onlisp.html] -- ''On Lisp''
by Paul Graham
+** [http://psg.com/~dlamkins/sl/contents.html] -- ''Successful Lisp''
by David Lamkins
* Implementations
-** [CMUCL] -- CarnegieMellon
University CommonLisp
+** [CMUCL] -- Carnegie Mellon
University Common Lisp
* IRC
** #lisp on irc.openprojects.net
