Xref: utzoo comp.ai:2150 comp.lang.prolog:1212 comp.lang.lisp:1081
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!bellcore!rutgers!ucsd!nosc!humu!uhccux!todd
From: todd@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Todd Ogasawara)
Newsgroups: comp.ai,comp.lang.prolog,comp.lang.lisp
Subject: Re: How do I learn about AI, Prolog, and/or Lisp
Keywords: AI Prolog Lisp Turbo Prolog
Message-ID: <2276@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Date: 23 Aug 88 19:29:47 GMT
References: <398@mfgfoc.UUCP> <952@scovert.sco.COM>
Reply-To: todd@uhccux.UUCP (Todd Ogasawara)
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 39

In article <952@scovert.sco.COM> johnwe (John Weber, Celtic sysmom) writes:
>In article <398@mfgfoc.UUCP> mike@mfgfoc.UUCP (Mike Thompson) writes:
>>1.  I have an IBM/XT at home with the newest version of TURBO PROLOG.
>>Can I use this system to gain an understanding of AI applications
>>such as expert systems?  If so, what books can help me?  I have not

>	for UN*X. Arity Prolog is a good commercial prolog for 
>	the IBM PCish boxes.

I use, and like, Arity/Prolog a lot.  I have both the interpreter and
compiler.  However, I would advise against trying to use it on a
4.77MHz IBM PC type box.  For yucks, I loaded API 5.x on my aged PC
when I received the most recent update.  The latest version of Arity is
very big and is very slow on a 4.77MHz PC.  I found the speed to be
almost acceptable on a 9.54MHz V30 based NEC Multispeed though.  And,
it is a viable development tool on a 10MHz 80286 based AT-clone.

>	Lisp and Prolog address different language issues, and are
>	both good and useful languages. ==> Prolog is quite different
>	from most "normal" languages, and may pose certain learning
>	difficulties. <== My personal favorite Lisps are Kyoto Common

I think the same is said of LISP.  I use both LISP and Prolog depending
on what I am working on.  My recollection is that Prolog was easier to
learn and allowed me to do the things it does best very quickly
(manipulate data in a database-like functions, pattern matching,
etc.).  I also found that when I needed to manipulate MIDI devices
(Musical Interface for Digital Instruments), LISP felt very "natural"
in that list-of-notes environment.

I think that people who are surveying what is out there should at least
investigate both LISP and Prolog and decide which language fits their
needs best.  In my case, it was both, depending on what I was doing.

-- 
Todd Ogasawara, U. of Hawaii Faculty Development Program
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