Lisp is a (family of) general purpose functional programming language(s), based on the lambda calculus, and with the ability to manipulate source code as a data structure.
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Lisp or a Lisp dialect for a newbie programmer?
After python, people recommend beginners should learn a functional language like Lisp. I didn't learn Python as my first language. Instead, I did Java like most CS students (currently in 2nd year of ...
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2answers
495 views
Could we build a functional computer?
As mush as FP has done, in the end, all our programs are structured.
That is, it doesn't matter how pure or functional we make a them - they are always translated to assembly,
so what actually runs ...
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2answers
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Are square brackets and curly braces in Clojure still S-expressions?
I am trying to learn Lisp and looking at all the Lisps out there and their differences.
I see that in some implementations of Scheme, you can use square brackets interchangeably with round brackets ...
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3answers
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Is there a way to use a higher level language in a competition that only has C, C++ and Java by default?
On that competition, you gain access to a system with gcc, vim, emacs and Java. You can't take any file with you and there's no internet access, but you can do whatever you want inside that system. ...
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4answers
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What are the practical benefits of LISP like syntax which Clojure uses over Java like syntax of Scala?
I spent couple of months learning Scala and got overwhelmed by number of different constructs it had,
After looking at partial functions, partially-applied functions, pattern matching, actor syntax,
I ...
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9answers
560 views
Resources for improving your comprehension of recursion? [closed]
I know what recursion is (when a patten reoccurs within itself, typically a function that calls itself on one of its lines, after a breakout conditional... right?), and I can understand recursive ...
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7answers
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LISP : What would be the best editor of choice for a newbie (other than Emacs)? [closed]
I'm looking to learn LISP, and I'm looking for a good editor, which I don't have to learn from scratch (mentioning it as I'm totally unfamiliar with Emacs). I'm a more/less proficient VIM user, and am ...
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4answers
997 views
In what programming language did “let” first appear?
I was wondering about the origins of the "let" used in Lisp, Clojure, and Haskell. Does anyone know which language it appeared in first?
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Online courses focussed on learning LISP for beginners? [closed]
I'm looking for an online course that I can use to learn programming using Lisp (especially Scheme), from scratch. I didn't find anything similar on Coursera/Udacity - the only resource I found was on ...
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1answer
88 views
Ring of numbers where adjacent entries sum up to a prime
Given a number n, find a permutation of the numbers 1...n such that all adjacent entries sum up to primes. If such a permutation does not exist, throw an error.
Is there a purely-functional way to do ...
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Why is Lisp useful?
Lisp obviously is an advantage for the AI stuff but it doesn't appear to me that Lisp is any faster than Java, C#, or even C. I am not a master of Lisp, but I find it incredibly difficult to ...
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416 views
What is the difference between a stock-hardware and a micro-coded machine in “A Critique of Common Lisp”?
I was reading this article: A Critique of Common Lisp and finding it hard to make out the precise definition of "stock-hardware machine" and its difference with "micro-coded" machines. I tried to ...
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391 views
Byte code weaving vs Lisp macros
I have been reading about the libraries people have written for languages like Java and C# that make use of byte code weaving to do things like intercept function calls, insert logging code, etc. I ...
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18answers
26k views
Is LISP still useful in today's world? Which version is most used?
I try to teach myself a new programming language in regular intervals of time. Recently, I've read how Lisp and its dialects are at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from languages like C/C++, ...
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2answers
305 views
What is a dotted pair's analogy in other Lisp implementations?
What is Scheme's dotted pair construct analogous to in other Lisp implementations? I can make a vector or list quite easily, and understand those in Clojure, even though the syntax is a little ...
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2answers
770 views
normal order evaluation -vs- applicative order evaluation
I am going through Abelson and Sussman (Structure and Interpretation
of Computer Programs) and I am a little confused about when normal order evaluation is used and when applicative order evaluation ...
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1answer
234 views
Common Lisp Implementations - threading and multiplatform?
I'm learning Common Lisp, mostly as a "mind gym" hobby thing, but I want to end up with a set of skills that would also be usable "in real life", because when you learn a language you also accumulate ...
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2answers
515 views
Which Common Lisp implementation to use?
There seems to be an immediate problem with starting to develop in Common Lisp: choosing an implementation. What should one take into account, and how much weight should it bear when considering a CL ...
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9answers
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How should I start with Lisp?
I've been programming for years now, working my way through various iterations of Blub (BASIC, Assembler, C, C++, Visual Basic, Java, Ruby in no particular order of "Blub-ness") and I'd like to learn ...
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1answer
194 views
How to translate Lisp to Javascript [closed]
I have some legacy code, which uses Lisp as it's scripting language. To broaden, ease and accelerate scripting I'd like to replace Lisp by Javascript.
In order to be able to built on all present ...
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5answers
2k views
Is there any evidence that lisp actually is better than other languages at artificial intelligence?
There seems to be a long-held belief (mainly by non-lispers) that lisp is better than most languages at AI.
Where did this belief originate? And is there any basis in fact to it?
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7answers
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Is there a language more general than Lisp? [closed]
I've been programming for a long time, and writing in Lisp (well, mostly Scheme) for a little less. My experience in these languages (and other functional languages) has informed my ability to write ...
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5answers
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Data structures in functional programming
I'm currently playing with LISP (particularly Scheme and Clojure) and I'm wondering how typical data structures are dealt with in functional programming languages.
For example, let's say I would like ...
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3answers
399 views
Does this happen in Common Lisp?
From Steve Yegge's "Lisp is Not an Acceptable Lisp":
Lisp has a little syntax, and it shows up occasionally as, for instance, '(foo)
being expanded as (quote foo), usually when you least expect it.
...
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9answers
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Greenspun's Tenth Rule, does every large project include a Lisp interpreter?
Greenspun's tenth rule (actually the only rule) states that:
Any sufficiently complicated C or Fortran program contains an ad hoc, informally-specified, bug-ridden, slow implementation of half of ...
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5answers
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What is a recent programming language of choice for the AI?
For a few decades the programming language of choice for AI was either Prolog or LISP, and a few more others that are not so well known. Most of them were designed before the 70's.
Changes happens a ...
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3answers
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Is Reading the Spec Enough? [closed]
This question is centered around Scheme but really could be applied to any LISP or programming language in general.
Background
So I recently picked up Scheme again having toyed with it once or twice ...
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2answers
297 views
Is eval the defmacro of javascript?
In Common Lisp, defmacro basically allows us to build our own DSL.
I read this page today and it explains something cleverly done:
But I wasn't about to write out all these boring predicates ...
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5answers
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Compiler design in LISP
With some googling, I could easily find some documents in compiler design in C/Java/C# and even in Haskell, but not in LISP except implementing SCHEME/LISP in LISP.
Is LISP not so popular in ...
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19answers
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Programming languages with a Lisp-like syntax extension mechanism [closed]
I have only a limited knowledge of Lisp (trying to learn a bit in my free time) but as far as I understand Lisp macros allow to introduce new language constructs and syntax by describing them in Lisp ...
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11answers
1k views
Is there a language offering LISP-like macros with a more complex syntax?
LISP's macros are extremely powerful constructs, and the inability to introspect and modify the program itself beyond the method signature level has always struck me as a limitation. Yet I favour ...
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2answers
573 views
How stable is Common LISP as a language?
I have been reading a bit about Common Lisp and I am considering trying to learn it (I only know very basic concepts) or even using it for some project.
Question: how stable is Common Lisp as a ...
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3answers
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When are multimethods useful in practice?
The Common Lisp Object System (CLOS) supports multiple dispatch (multimethods). When is this a useful feature in practice? I'm not just looking for an example of hypothetical functionality that ...
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4answers
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What is the best JVM Lisp for writing a video game?
This video game won't be super fancy, but the idea is for it to have a moderate amount of functionality. Thoughts?
Edit:
Fast would be nice.
Another edit:
This is what I want:
To be able to ...
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1answer
205 views
Lisp Macros: A practical approach
On my way to learn Lisp I have discovered the all powerful and feared so called Macros, then after spending a hard time trying to understand them and their usefulness I said to myself, I FINALLY GOT ...
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2answers
460 views
What are the typical applications of Lisp macros?
I am trying to learn some LISP and I have read a lot about the importance of LISP macros so I would like to get some working experience with them.
Can you suggest a practical application area that ...
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Can the Clojure set and maps syntax be added to other Lisp dialects?
In addition to create list using parentheses, Clojure allows to create vectors using [ ], maps using { } and sets using #{ }.
Lisp is always said to be a very extensible language in which you can ...
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2answers
481 views
According to Paul Graham in 2002, languages can be ranked in power order and Lisp is the first on that ranking. Is this still accurate? [closed]
His arguments are based on the premise a programmer can see when a language is less powerful than that he is using because the lack of an essential key feature, and that Lisp's macros is a key feature ...
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2answers
235 views
Why does Scheme r5rs have no module system
With all the controversy surrounding scheme r6rs, I stuck with r5rs and I am wondering why the designers decided to not implement a module system. How does one organize code in this?
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3answers
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Implementing `let` without using a macro
I'm learning Lisp, and I've just gotten to let, which I don't quite understand (the implementation of).
A common definition for it is given in terms of lambda as a macro. However, nowhere have I ...
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2answers
358 views
What are examples of Lisp's accomplishments? [closed]
I've more than once heard that sometimes a few individuals come up with great accomplishments from using Lisp. What are those refering to? What are concrete examples of people using Lisp to create ...
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5answers
747 views
How useful are Lisp macros?
Common Lisp allows you to write macros that do whatever source transformation you want.
Scheme gives you a hygienic pattern-matching system that lets you perform transformations as well. How useful ...
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6answers
741 views
Programming language for numerical computing [closed]
I am attending a course in numerical computing next semester, so I thought I could prepare this summer. My guess is that all of the stuff in the course is language independent, but it is cool to try ...
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2answers
405 views
Where are functional languages used? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Functional Programming in Commercial Software
Which problems domains are more suited to functional programming solutions
I just wonder where do functional programming ...
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6answers
325 views
Do non-pure interpreters still make the guarantees of functional programming?
I am assuming the implementations/compilers/generated C code (referred to hereinafter as generic, 'interpreter') for most functional programming languages are written in non-pure functional languages. ...
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5answers
350 views
Why is the empty list used as the list terminator in Lisp?
It seems to me that the list terminator in Lisp could be any arbitrary value. For example, the string terminator in C is the null pointer. Is there a philosophical reason why the empty list was chosen ...
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7answers
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What are the reasons why Clojure is hyped and PicoLisp widely ignored?
I recently discovered the Lisp family of programming languages, and it's definitely one of the more diverse and widespread families in the programming language world. I like Elisp because that most ...
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3answers
354 views
Making LISPs manageable
I am trying to learn Clojure, which seems a good candidate for a successful LISP. I have no problem with the concepts, but now I would like to start actually doing something.
Here it comes my ...
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4answers
2k views
Example of where Functional Programming is Superior to Imperative or Object-Oriented Programming? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Which problems domains are more suited to functional programming solutions
I've been reading about functional programming. I've been using mostly C#.net recently, and ...
74
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5answers
16k views
Scheme vs Common Lisp: Which characteristics made a difference in your project? [closed]
There are no shortage of vague "Scheme vs Common Lisp" questions on both StackOverflow and on this site, so I want to make this one more focused. The question is for people who have coded in both ...
