[Openmcl-devel] prompt-for-file (embarrassing question)

[Dimitri Simos]

Not for this list, Max. You misunderstood me by 180 degrees, but that's 
my fault, my comments were not clear. I will contact you.

To conclude from my side:

Lisp is the nearest thing we have to an implementation of lambda 
calculus, arguably the nearest thing to a formalism of classical logic. 
Putting it another way: Lisp is the best way I know of implementing 
abstraction. It has mind-blowing reach. This lets an aeronautical 
engineer implement some non-trivial aeronautical stuff effectively. But 
he can only do so because the Lisp that he used invited him to abstract 
from the start. It did not demand computer expertise or a deep software 
background or impose significant distractions. It let him abuse it and 
even crash it on a regular basis. It's scary what one could do to MCL.

I understand the massive obstacles and other difficulties plus the lack 
of resources, and I don’t know the answers either.

I suspect that out-of-the-box usability is not a nice afterthought or 
feature, it’s what will make people use Lisp. Perhaps another team of 
Skilful Aliens can come together. Who knows.



On 31/03/2017 11:25, Max Rottenkolber wrote:
> As a youngster I feel I need to chime in and set some things right.