                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
From: Raymond Wiker <r...@unknown-00-23-6c-8d-9e-26.lan>
Newsgroups: comp.lang.lisp
Subject: Re: Future of lisp?
References: <c0a53779-cb9d-4424-8632-59c0dd987322@glegroupsg2000goo.googlegroups.com>
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	<62663f4e-eec0-47f2-85e7-b5ba6ed123bf@glegroupsg2000goo.googlegroups.com>
	<bc06ce4b-7091-4cbf-b461-4edfa829dd76@w18g2000yqc.googlegroups.com>
	<877h68pinp.fsf@kuiper.lan.informatimago.com>
	<70029913-cca4-465a-8da9-0d7c069437c8@glegroupsg2000goo.googlegroups.com>
	<9d3fshFthgU1@mid.individual.net>
	<87wrdf8ffi.fsf@kuiper.lan.informatimago.com>
	<8762kypjnk.fsf@data.earlhome> <j4lpdk$5f9$1@dont-email.me>
	<87obypo27w.fsf@data.earlhome> <j4mdu3$576$1@dont-email.me>
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Date: Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:30:10 +0200
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Tim Bradshaw <t...@tfeb.org> writes:

> On 2011-09-13 18:38:30 +0100, Jason Earl said:
>
>> Yes, it does require more skill to use to its *full advantage*.  My
>> point is that you don't have to use Lisp to its full advantage to see
>> that it has advantages.
>
> OK, so let's be specific: if you're not doing metaprogramming of some
> kind (really, macros), what *are* lisp's advantages?

- interactive (no need for coffe breaks while compiling; generally no
  need to   spend ages setting up a test scenario (again) after a
  change)

- "right-level" (has useful functionality for low-level data
  manipulation as well as for higher-level abstractions)

- dynamic & mutable (can change classes/functions/methods at will;
  possible to postpone certain detail decisions)

- high quality of the language standard, implementations and libraries
  (other languages may boast of having "more" libraries, but Common Lisp
  libraries commonly (sorry) have better quality)

- can "deliver" applications when the time comes (not usually available
  in the SLDJ)

- always(?) something new to learn about, at whatever level you
  are... eventually, you will probably also dive into macros, but you
  can be highly productive in Lisp even without using macros.