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From: mikeb@wdl35.wdl.loral.com (Michael H Bender)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp
Subject: Re: Greatly exaggerated reports of Lisp's demise
Message-ID: <MIKEB.91Feb15133343@wdl35.wdl.loral.com>
Date: 15 Feb 91 21:33:43 GMT
References: <1991Feb12.122415.23035@src.dec.com>
Sender: news@wdl1.wdl.loral.com
Organization: Ford Aerospace, Western Development Laboratories
Lines: 35
In-Reply-To: meehan@src.dec.com's message of 12 Feb 91 20:24:15 GMT

Jim Meehan writes:
   ....

   On the other hand, several commercially available implementations provide a
   system-building option for excluding the pieces of CL that you don't
   use or want.  Of course, if you write code that does (funcall (intern
   (format nil ...))) or (eval ...)  or (compile ...)  at runtime, all
   bets are off, but then you're not writing commercial code :-).

Question: As a novice Lisp programmer, I am currently designing and coding
a system with that will dynamically define new classes (in CLOS). You seem
to imply that this would not be the right approach in a deliverable system.
Why? What is the alternative? (The system is a knowledge-based shell and
has to accept new "patterns" dynamically as the user defines them.)

   Of course, having the wealth of choices for writing the same code is
   not always a good thing.  We had an in-house "Common Lisp style sheet"
   that included, among other advice, a list of "forbidden forms," whose
   use you would have to justify to the company's Programming Czar, who
   almost never let you get away with anything.  The Forbidden List
   included DO*, RPLACA, RPLACD, PROGV, any C{A,D}R function with more
   than two letters between the C and the R (and those only for plists),
   and others.  There was also a Restricted-Use List, including APPEND,
   PROGN, BLOCK, etc., where there were specific cases where they could
   be used, but not elsewhere.  The programmers liked this.  It promoted
   useful discussion, especially among Lisp newcomers, it enhanced
   readability, and it spared them age-old hassles.

Again, as a novice Lisp programmer I would love to get a copy of some
type of style sheet. Can anybody recommend one or send me a copy of
one they use in-house?

Thanks in advance, 

Mike Bender