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From: andree@uokvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: Wanted: AI Software - (nf)
Message-ID: <3945@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Nov-83 22:54:28 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3945
Posted: Fri Nov 18 22:54:28 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 20-Nov-83 01:12:35 EST
Lines: 47

#R:uicsl:7000032:uokvax:3400015:000:2000
uokvax!andree    Nov 17 18:16:00 1983

Let me recommend the Stiff Upper Lisp from Tennant & Tennant
Computing. Last time I looked, it was available from Lifeboat
for about $150. It is also available from Tennant and Tennant
Computing [3537 Ridgemoor Drive, Garland TX, 75042,
214/530-0575], but I don't know the price.

The package comes with the usual collection of things (animal,
doctor), plus an on-line help system and a LISP editor (not
screen-oriented, unfortunately). There are a couple (currently
two, with one announced) of other disks available for nominal
cost.

Software Package 1 ($20) includes an object oriented package for
LISP, a (very small) relational data base managger, a screen
twiddling package (no editor - but the tools to write one are
there), demo sorting programs and tower of hanoi programs that
use the screen code (watch the disks move...). This system also
include better debugging features (stepper, tracer, etc.).

Software Package 2 (just announced) should include a library
manager + library of 75 someod usefull functions, a dribble
system (session catcher), a record package, and `small
masterscope'!

The Expert Systems Package ($40) includes three different expert
systems. One just does inferences, the second adds certainty
factors & executable LISP expressions, and the last one has rules
with parameters.

In the issue of the newsletter where this came from, there is a
quote from Microsystems  (August 1983) stating that the Stiff
Upper Lisp is better than muLISP (true from what I've heard of
muLISP) and Supersoft LISP (no contest). Didn't mention TLC LISP
(no longer available - it go bought by DRI and they haven't
released it yet).

I think as a LISP system & toy for playing with AI concepts (you
don't honestly expect to do real work on a z80, do you?), you
can't get a better buy. The major lack is that there isn't a
screen editor for it. I have patches to Mince to do paren
matching (they are someone elses modified to work with my Mince
command set) that you're welcome to.

	<mike