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Common Lisp aka ANSI Standard X3J13. A popular [LISP] dialect. Most implementations compile to native code. Very few are purely interpreted or byte compiled.

Get started in Common Lisp with [http://www.unmutual.info/startingwithcl.html].

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.

''[Perl]6 is stealing them both. :) Although it won't likely be here for a few years yet. In fact multiple dispatch is already possible in [Perl]5, though not available natively - as always, a stroll through [CPAN] is helpful. --AristotlePagaltzis''

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.cliki.net/index] -- Common Lisp [Wiki | WikiWikiWeb]
** [http://www.lispworks.com/reference/HyperSpec/Front/index.htm] -- ''The Common Lisp !HyperSpec'' (the entire CL specification)
** [http://www.alu.org/alu/home] -- Association of Lisp Users
** [http://www.common-lisp.net] -- Common Lisp sourceforge analogue
* Books
** [http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/] -- Practical Common Lisp. This is a great book for new CommonLispniks.
** [http://www.paulgraham.com/onlisp.html] -- ''On Lisp'' by Paul Graham
** [http://psg.com/~dlamkins/sl/contents.html] -- ''Successful Lisp'' by David Lamkins
* Implementations
** Free
*** [CMUCL] -- Carnegie Mellon University Common Lisp
*** [SBCL] -- Steel Bank Common Lisp (favourite lisp compiler of GeoffCant)
*** [OpenMCL] -- Free derivative of Macintosh Common Lisp
** Non-Free
*** [ACL] -- Franz Allegro Common Lisp
*** [LW] -- Xanalys Lisp Works
*** [Genera] -- Symbolics Open Genera
* Getting Started
** [http://www.unmutual.info/startingwithcl.html]
** Get a recentish copy of [SBCL] or [CMUCL] and CVS [SLIME] (setup as per [http://www.cliki.net/SLIME-HOWTO])
** Do not be fooled into using [ILISP] :)
** Hop on #lisp !
** Start reading [http://www.gigamonkeys.com/book/]
* IRC
** #lisp on irc.openprojects.net
* Usenet
** nntp://comp.lang.lisp
5 pages link to CommonLisp:
Last edited on Thursday, December 29, 2005 8:33:07 am by GeoffCant
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