Three Language Features You Need To Understand Before You Dismiss Common Lisp

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24 pointsnickb3 comments

Hrm. I have to admit I don't understand two of them. I understand macros, but I wouldn't really say I understood the condition system or the Meta-Object Protocol.

It is at least a deliberate choice. I don't like the style of programming where you use a lot of conditions, and the Meta-Object Protocol just seemed like a huge unLispy hairball I was happy to skip.

> "... we were not out to win over the Lisp programmers; we were after the C++ programmers. We managed to drag a lot of them about halfway to Lisp."

I've never understood that mindset. Java is about the opposite direction from Lisp.

At least C++ has generic metaprogramming.

I think he was referring to garbage collecting. Not that it makes this statement any more justified or anything.

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