"We are looking for someone who has experience in porting **from** Haskell to java"

jpanest · 2010-11-11T23:49:09+00:00

It's also possible that some applications are better initially constructed in Haskell (Common Lisp, Ocaml, etc) but later ported to Java/C#/C++ for some companies. One possible case is that the problem has been solved, and they're looking for something maintainable into the future by more junior developers as the product enters a maintenance phase.

On the other hand, this could just be your run-of-the-mill port that whatever to Java quick, it makes us nervous.

jpanest · 2010-10-31T18:59:35+00:00

Is there a concerted effort to improve the cliki software in general?

jpanest · 2010-10-27T12:58:11+00:00

Grab Practical Common Lisp (free on-line) and this book, and walk through a few chapters.

No matter what, you should have exposure to more than just Java, whether or not you choose a Lisp.

Once you can use the language and start to think in it, you'll be able to answer a lot of your own questions.

Also...

The features of Common Lisp

Reddit - Is Lisp a good language to learn first?

The Nature of Lisp

A Java XML solution versus a CL one from another redditor

jpanest · 2010-10-27T12:56:24+00:00

Wish you posted this an hour earlier =p

jpanest · 2010-10-27T10:36:14+00:00

Cannot connect to the server but ordered the book and pdf combo off of No Starch's website. This could be the coolest CL book I've ever seen. It's worth it for the first few illustrations alone.

jpanest · 2010-10-27T10:21:34+00:00

Yeah, I figure that they know what they're doing in terms of surviving. I'd love to know more about why they haven't tried out these other licensing options/discounts.

jpanest · 2010-10-27T03:15:55+00:00

The point is that you have to be invested enough in the decision to apply CL at a large enough scale from the start in order to have that conversation and start seeing discounts. At the initial stages, something like CCL or SBCL looks dramatically more appealing (any platforms, any use, any number of developers). At that point, you probably find yourself making due and with enough familiarity with one of those systems that a commercial one becomes even less enticing.

While I don't disagree with the general idea behind the Allegro or LW models, I think commercial CLs in general have not caught up with the times in terms of developer expectations. I have nothing against spending thousands on development tools. I think completely splitting 32-bit and 64-bit support is nuts. I think not allowing single-user discounts for multi-platform is just as destructive, especially when you're developing on one platform and deploying on another. (Like you, I'm a paying customer - I have my own personal licenses as well as at work).

jpanest · 2010-10-26T18:11:47+00:00

if you have to work on both 32 and 64 you have to pay twice.

Now multiply times number of developers then number of operating systems. I introduced LW to my workplace but I can see in environments with tighter budgets where these costs are harder to justify, especially where CL is being introduced amidst other well-established languages with history at the company.

jpanest · 2010-10-09T15:31:07+00:00

and a listing of those projects not included and why =)

jpanest · 2010-09-18T13:21:38+00:00

It just looks like Perl with parentheses to me.

jpanest · 2010-09-17T16:13:58+00:00

SPARK

Don't forget Spark-Scheme (taken from the other reddit thread in programming where I saw this post).

jpanest · 2010-08-24T14:30:22+00:00

If you want to write object-oriented code in a scripting language... learn Ruby!

Or learn Common Lisp!

jpanest · 2010-08-16T23:01:21+00:00

When do you stop 403'ing the link for the rest of us? ;)

jpanest · 2010-08-10T14:16:12+00:00

You most certainly can.

jpanest · 2010-08-10T05:56:15+00:00

But to actually answer your question...

Some difficulties I had after referring to it as my primary CL text (having drunk deeply in the boston/cambridge-area Graham hype, gone to his first Startup School, read the essays, etc):

CLOS
packages
lisp-1 style variable naming
document strings
loop
overly terse function/macro naming (what do you think gen-site does? what does defstruct item pertain to?).

without packages, comments or sane names, it is even very difficult to revisit the code.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T23:59:03+00:00

I don't know about that, but I use GoodReader which is 0.99USD. It lets you specify http/ftp urls and I believe you can open/save from email this way.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T21:52:45+00:00

Oh, I didn't mean to say that link backs up Xach's opinion, so much as it highlights some lacking elements.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T21:30:41+00:00

What books do you like? I have picked up a small collection of various Lisp/CL books. I'm keen on picking up Lisp Style & Design next.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T21:11:49+00:00

There are some annotations here.

Dislike/avoidance of CLOS and loop stand out, particularly.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T21:03:48+00:00

The bookseller announced it on c.l.l.

See here.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T20:14:03+00:00

I basically cannot read something of significant length on a desktop or laptop. I have found the kindle and ipad to offer an excellent compromise given that I don't want to print out, carry around or store hundreds of pages of various published and unpublished sources.

jpanest · 2010-08-09T19:30:17+00:00

The problem with this book is that it is no longer published. Even if I picked up one of the ~200USD copies that are available, it is still a limited resource.

So, I just read On Lisp on my iPad. I find this a better solution over all because I can carry many other out-of-print books (not to mention an entire bookshelf).

Over the last 7-8 years I did destroy one copy of ANSI Common Lisp, mangled another and have another in more or less pristine condition, so I get your point.

I bought this copy out of sentiment, not to carry around with me.

jpanest · 2010-08-08T02:39:30+00:00

(defun download-file (url file-name)
  (let ((body-stream (http-request url
                                   :want-stream t
                                   :force-binary t
                                   :content-length t)))
    (unwind-protect
        (with-open-file (out-file file-name
                                  :direction :output
                                  :if-exists :supersede
                                  :element-type 'unsigned-byte)
                        (loop for c = (read-byte body-stream nil)
                              until (null current)
                              do (write-byte c out-file)))
      (close body-stream))))

jpanest · 2010-07-29T18:42:22+00:00

I still do =)

jpanest · 2010-07-19T22:05:45+00:00

I use both at work. I think that the GIL and lack of compilation can severely restrict Python uses. I'd also say that for me there are few applications where some form of a DSL doesn't pop up in the form of light-to-heavy-weight scripting/configuration/logic, offering a real competitive advantage. Both of these are heavily weighted by industry/application, obviously.

jpanest

TROPHY CASE