On Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:20:28 -0700 (PDT) cageface <milese...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 28, 1:10 pm, Mike Meyer <mwm-keyword-googlegroups. > 620...@mired.org> wrote: > > Not true as I understand "the Lisp way". You also need to reread the > > last paragraph again. > I actually agree with you that the typical block of lisp code is less > readable than the typical block of python. It bugs me when lisp > advocates present s-expr syntax as the "right" way instead of the > engineering tradeoff that it is. You forgo the niceties of a more > ergonomic, less primitive syntax in exchange for unparalleled > syntactic flexibility and corresponding power it brings. To me this > *is* the "Lisp way" - building up the language to your problem by > defining new constructs that other languages have to implement from > scratch. The difference between clojure's "with-open" and python's > "with" illustrates this pretty clearly, the Java legacy that makes > "with-open" a 95% solution notwithstanding. > > What does the "Lisp way" mean to you? What you're calling "The LISP way" I first met under the name "bottom-up programming" - the only real difference is that LISP lets you muck about with what is syntax in other languages - except you pretty much have to stay with S-expressions in LISP (barring reader macros). But yeah, that's part of it. The part that's relevant to the readability paper is that good LISP style calls for using macros only when required (a quick google turned up http://www.bookshelf.jp/texi/onlisp/onlisp_9.html, and rule 3 at http://www.apl.jhu.edu/~hall/Lisp-Notes/Macros.html, and section 5 at http://www.weitz.de/macros.lisp, etc.). In other words, you should only create what is would be new syntax in other languages when you have to. <mike -- Mike Meyer <m...@mired.org> http://www.mired.org/consulting.html Independent Network/Unix/Perforce consultant, email for more information. O< ascii ribbon campaign - stop html mail - www.asciiribbon.org -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Clojure" group. To post to this group, send email to clojure@googlegroups.com Note that posts from new members are moderated - please be patient with your first post. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to clojure+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/clojure?hl=en
