From: Josh Gardner
Subject: Hello..can nayone give me some Lisp tips? I'm just learning the language
Date:
Message-ID: <36105855.528F007F@dowco.com>
Hello all:
I'm a computer sci student, studying AI, and I'm just learning Lisp
(only been using it a few weeks)
and I'm using Franz Allegro 3.0.2.
So far, I'm liking it, but finding it a little difficult to make the
switch from other languages like C and C++... given enough time I can
usually work things out, but I ws wonder if any of ytou seasoned Lispers
out there could toss a few pointers my way?
Plus, does anyone have any tips on using the builder functions in
Allegro 3.0.2? I'm trying to get widgets to affect the functioning of
other widgets (like, say, clicking a button, and making it make a little
"Hello, World" pop up in a text field) I've tried for many long hours,
without success...
Thanks a lot for your much-appreciated help!
From: Sunil Mishra
Subject: Re: Hello..can nayone give me some Lisp tips? I'm just learning the language
Date:
Message-ID: <efyu31rpo2a.fsf@cleon.cc.gatech.edu>
Josh Gardner <·····@dowco.com> writes:
> Hello all:
>
> I'm a computer sci student, studying AI, and I'm just learning Lisp
> (only been using it a few weeks)
> and I'm using Franz Allegro 3.0.2.
>
> So far, I'm liking it, but finding it a little difficult to make the
> switch from other languages like C and C++... given enough time I can
> usually work things out, but I ws wonder if any of ytou seasoned Lispers
> out there could toss a few pointers my way?
I'm going to interpret this as a request for a guide to lisp coding
conventions. The best place to find out about this (and a host of other
issues about Lisp) is
http://www.elwoodcorp.com/alu/
Check out the style guides in particular, they will probably make it easier
for you to read lisp programs.
If you are unfamiliar with functional programming in general (which you
would be if your experience is primarily with C/C++) then you have a bigger
problem. A good text would be in order. My personal favorite is "The
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs", by Abelson and
Sussman. Techincally it's not Lisp, but scheme, but the two languages are
similar enough. There are a few things you will have to watch out for that
might trip you up as a beginner. For instance, a symbol in common lisp has
both a function and variable value, while in scheme a symbol can have only
one.
Hope this is close to what you were looking for.
Sunil
From: Kent M Pitman
Subject: Re: Hello..can nayone give me some Lisp tips? I'm just learning the language
Date:
Message-ID: <sfwpvcfbk4v.fsf@world.std.com>
Sunil Mishra <·······@cleon.cc.gatech.edu> writes:
> If you are unfamiliar with functional programming in general (which you
> would be if your experience is primarily with C/C++) then you have a bigger
> problem. A good text would be in order. My personal favorite is "The
> Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs", by Abelson and
> Sussman. Techincally it's not Lisp, but scheme, but the two languages are
> similar enough. There are a few things you will have to watch out for that
> might trip you up as a beginner. For instance, a symbol in common lisp has
> both a function and variable value, while in scheme a symbol can have only
> one.
I'd recommend NOT going with Structure and Interpretation of Computer
Programs if you have a Lisp book in front of you. There are many fine
Common Lisp texts and there is no reason at all to pick something with
major potential pitfalls like a Scheme book. Sure, someone who knows
the language might think the differences minor, but they have the
potential for horribly confusing a new student.
Frankly, I think it's a stretch these days even to recommend Steele's
Common Lisp, the Language, which has been largely superseded.
I'd say get Graham's "ANSI Common Lisp" or at minimum some other book
which purports to be at least Common Lisp and preferrably ANSI Common
Lisp.
From: Howard R. Stearns
Subject: Re: Hello..can nayone give me some Lisp tips? I'm just learning the language
Date:
Message-ID: <36124AF6.494D6D9A@elwood.com>
Sunil Mishra wrote:
>
> Josh Gardner <·····@dowco.com> writes:
>
> > Hello all:
> >
> > I'm a computer sci student, studying AI, and I'm just learning Lisp
> > (only been using it a few weeks)
> > and I'm using Franz Allegro 3.0.2.
> >
> > So far, I'm liking it, but finding it a little difficult to make the
> > switch from other languages like C and C++... given enough time I can
> > usually work things out, but I ws wonder if any of ytou seasoned Lispers
> > out there could toss a few pointers my way?
>
> I'm going to interpret this as a request for a guide to lisp coding
> conventions. The best place to find out about this (and a host of other
> issues about Lisp) is
>
> http://www.elwoodcorp.com/alu/
>
> Check out the style guides in particular, they will probably make it easier
> for you to read lisp programs.
>
> If you are unfamiliar with functional programming in general (which you
> would be if your experience is primarily with C/C++) then you have a bigger
> problem. A good text would be in order. My personal favorite is "The
> Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs", by Abelson and
> Sussman. Techincally it's not Lisp, but scheme, but the two languages are
> similar enough. There are a few things you will have to watch out for that
> might trip you up as a beginner. For instance, a symbol in common lisp has
> both a function and variable value, while in scheme a symbol can have only
> one.
>
> Hope this is close to what you were looking for.
>
> Sunil
The tutorials (some online), books and style guides at the ALU site,
above, are the right thing.
The site also has some small essays under the "What is Lisp?" section
that introduces some of the concepts of Lisp and gives pointers to
comparsisons with other languages (including C++).
There is also a VERY brief set of notes for C programmers regarding Lisp
in the Eclipse documentation
(http://www.elwood.com/eclipse/concept.htm), and syntax
(http://www.elwood.com/eclipse/syntax.htm).