Xref: utzoo comp.lang.scheme:1618 comp.lang.lisp:3571
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnewsc!lgm
From: lgm@cbnewsc.att.com (lawrence.g.mayka)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.scheme,comp.lang.lisp
Subject: Re: extension languages can be darn small, yet still powerfull
Summary: Understanding the Lisp-hater
Message-ID: <1990Sep1.023047.23035@cbnewsc.att.com>
Date: 1 Sep 90 02:30:47 GMT
References: <9008220403.AA03028@schizo> <1990Aug29.153243.7567@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu>
Followup-To: comp.lang.lisp
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 38

In article <1990Aug29.153243.7567@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu>, lishka@uwslh.slh.wisc.edu (a.k.a. Chri) writes:
> editors, compilers, and ARexx.  Languages like shell languages
> (including ARexx) are incredibly extensible, because you can use other
> programs as language "operators".  Yes, lisp is naturally extensible,
> but so are *many* other languages. 

Extensible shell languages often use *prefix* notation, don't they?
Hmmm...

> Many of the lisp-haters that I am thinking of used the Xerox InterLisp
> workstation environment.  What got many people were the structured
> editors.  (I didn't mind these workstations much, aside from the

I have read of the '70s debate between syntax-sensitive text editing
(a la MIT) and true structure editing (a la Xerox).  I am very pleased
with the former; the latter seems to be dying out, so I may never even
have a chance to sample it.

> slowness.)  Many people I have spoken to hate lisp because they are
> used to Pascal-like languages.  Some of these people had programmed in
> lisp for several months (i.e. a few AI courses in school).

Several months may or may not be a fair test, depending on the
intensity of Lisp usage, the brand of Lisp used, the degree of
emotional investment in other languages and environments, the degree
of resistance to change (of any kind), etc.

> chance, and found they just didn't like it.  Be careful of assuming
> that lisp-haters have formed their opinions out of ignorance.

No, not all, of course.  But enough to bother me, I guess.


	Lawrence G. Mayka
	AT&T Bell Laboratories
	lgm@iexist.att.com

Standard disclaimer.