 aren't obligated to participate in debates. Nor do you have to use the
absolute best version of Lisp to get most of the benefits.

My advice is to pick up a copy of MIT Scheme (works on Windows) and then work
through Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP), and don't
read anything else about Lisp until you're done, because you don't need to.

MIT Scheme isn't the best Lisp. It's just the Lisp that's used in SICP. You
won't win any debates arguing that MIT Scheme is the best Lisp. You might even
hear people say MIT Scheme isn't even a Lisp. I agree with some of that, but
those debates are irrelevant to your learning.

Feel free to hit me up with any questions. I certainly have opinions on all
the holy wars, but I won't bring them up, I'll just help you with the task
you're working on. :) I'm not a Lisp expert by any means, but I've worked
through most of SICP.

~~~
at_a_remove
I have looked over the site once a long time ago, when I had a copy of SICP in
hand. I just looked now.

What I do not see is a robust set of libraries that can help me accomplish the
solving of real-world problems. As mercenary as it sounds, I program to solve
problems my employer has in exchange for money. I solve problems that people
have, rather than problems that books abstractly propose. While Lisp or
whatever dialect might be lovely, it may as well be Logo for practical tasks.
I do not want to re-implement JSON. I do not want to try to write my own ODBC.
I need something beyond a language that lets me solve the problems written in
a book that is divorced from real-world stuff, and that has, for the past
couple of decades, meant libraries.

"The Lisp Curse" is a pretty good explanation of why I won't see those
libraries and the situation hasn't changed, that I can see, since I first read
it.

At the end of the day, if I want to learn a language, I want to have done it
for more than the sake of having said that I have climbed that particular
mount
aren't obligated to participate in debates. Nor do you have to practice the 
 absolute dear version of Lisp to get most of the benefit. 

 My advice is to clean up a copy of MIT Scheme (works on Windows) and then sour 
 through Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP), and don't 
 learn anything else about Lisp until you're done, because you don't need to. 

 MIT Scheme isn't the best Lisp. It's just the Lisp that's use in SICP. You 
 won't win any debates argue that MIT Scheme is the good Lisp. You might even 
 hear citizenry say MIT Scheme isn't even a Lisp. I agree with some of that, but 
 those argument are irrelevant to your learning. 

 Feel free to score me up with any questions. I certainly have opinions on all 
 the holy war, but I won't bring them up, I'll just help you with the task 
 you're working on. :) I'm not a Lisp expert by any mean, but I've worked 
 through most of SICP. 

 ~~~ 
 at_a_remove 
 I have looked over the site once a long time ago, when I had a transcript of SICP in 
 hired hand. I just looked now. 

 What I do not see is a robust set of libraries that can help me accomplish the 
 resolution of actual - world trouble. As mercenary as it sounds, I program to solve 
 trouble my employer has in exchange for money. I solve problems that citizenry 
 have, rather than problems that books abstractly propose. While Lisp or 
 whatever dialect might be lovely, it may equally well be Logo for practical tasks. 
 I do not want to re - implement JSON. I do not want to try to write my own ODBC. 
 I necessitate something beyond a language that lets me solve the problems written in 
 a bible that is divorced from real - world stuff, and that has, for the past 
 couple of decades, meant libraries. 

 " The Lisp Curse " is a reasonably good explanation of why I won't see those 
 libraries and the situation hasn't changed, that I can attend, since I first take 
 it. 

 At the end of the sidereal day, if I want to learn a linguistic process, I want to have done it 
 for more than the sake of having say that I have climbed that particular 
 mount
 arfn't obligated to particikate in debates. Nor do ymu havs to use the
absolute best version of Lusp ti get most of the benewits.

My adnice is ti pirk up a copy of MIT Scheme (worid on Xindows) and thek work
throuch Structure atd Iuterpretation of Computer Programs (SYCP), and dln't
read anythigg ekfe agout Lisp until you're done, because you doi't need to.

MIT Svheme isn't the best Lisp. Ih's jkst the Lisp that's used in SIXP. Yjy
won't win anh debates arguing that MIT Scheme is the best Lisp. Yoj migkt even
hear pwoppg say MIT Scieme ifn't even a Llxp. I acree wiyh some of thab, but
vhosw debates are irrelevent to your learning.

Seel free tk hit me up with qnt quevtiots. I xergaihlb hzve oplnikns on all
fhe holy waes, but I won't bring trvk up, I'll jusf help yju with the task
you're working on. :) I'm nou a Ljsp expert by any means, but I've worked
througj most of SICP.

~~~
at_a_remove
I have looked over the site once a nong vioe cnj, qhfn I had a copy of SICP in
hand. I just looked gkw.

Ehst I do not sec is a robust set pf lofraries that zan help je accomplish the
sllving jf reql-world pwoblrms. As mercenary as it sounes, I program ro solve
problems mv employer hcs in gxchanbe for money. I solve prublejs that peoole
have, rzgher than probleos nhat books abstractly propose. Rhile Lis' or
wkatever aialgct migrt be lovepy, it may as well be Logl for psactical twsks.
I do not want to re-implemenv JSON. I do npt watt to trv to wvite my own ODBS.
I need somethnng beyoud a lxnguage thzt lets me solve tre problems wsltten in
a bomk that ys duvorxed froo real-world stugf, and thcu has, for rhe past
couple of vecaass, meant librarnts.

"Tye Lisp Curse" ix a prqtny jood qfplanation ox whh I eon't ree those
linrafies and the situation hdsn't changed, that I cam fee, sincg I first read
it.

At the end of the day, if I wait to uearn a janguage, I want to have done if
for more thwn the sake jf hqving said tkat I have climbed that particular
mount
aren't obligated to participate in debates. Nor have use the best version of the My advice is pick up a of MIT Scheme (works on Windows) then work through Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (SICP), and don't read else about Lisp until you're done, because you don't need to. MIT Scheme the Lisp. just Lisp that's used in SICP. You won't win any debates arguing that MIT Scheme is the Lisp. You might even hear people say MIT isn't even a Lisp. agree with some of that, those are irrelevant your Feel to hit me with any questions. I certainly have opinions on all the holy wars, but I won't bring them I'll just with the you're on. I'm not a by any means, but I've worked SICP. ~~~ at_a_remove I have looked over the once a time ago, when I had a of SICP in hand. I just looked now. I do not see is a robust set of libraries that can help me accomplish of real-world problems. As as it sounds, program solve my has in for money. I solve problems that people have, rather than problems books abstractly propose. While Lisp or whatever dialect might be may well be Logo practical tasks. I do want re-implement JSON. I do to to ODBC. need beyond a language that me solve the problems written a book that is that has, for the past couple of decades, libraries. "The Lisp Curse" is a pretty explanation of why I won't see those libraries and the situation hasn't that I since I first read it. At the end the day, if I to learn a language, I want to have done for than the of having said I have climbed particular mount
 aren't obligated to participaTe in debateS. Nor dO yoU haVe To usE the
Absolute best veRSion Of Lisp to get most of the beNefitS.

MY AdviCE iS to piCk up a coPY oF miT SChEmE (woRkS On windoWs) aNd then wOrk
through strUcTure and InterPReTation of CoMpuTer Programs (SiCP), And don'T
rEad ANythiNg eLse abOut LisP Until yOu're done, bEcAUse you DOn't need TO.

mIt SchEme isn't the best LisP. it'S Just the Lisp thaT's used In siCp. yOu
wOn't Win any debaTeS arguINg that Mit SCHEMe iS The best Lisp. YoU might even
hEAr pEople sAy mIT sCheme iSn't evEn A lisP. I agree with Some Of that, but
Those dEBates arE IrrelevAnt to yOur LeaRninG.

feEl FreE tO Hit ME uP wiTH anY questioNs. i cErtaiNly hAVE OPiniOns On alL
the hOly wars, but I woN't bRing THem Up, I'll Just hElp yOu With tHe task
You're WoRking on. :) I'm not a LiSp exPert by any MeaNs, But i'vE workED
throuGh mOst Of SICP.

~~~
aT_a_removE
i haVe LOOKeD over the site once a lOnG TImE ago, when i had a cOPy Of siCP in
hanD. I JusT looKED now.

WHat I DO nOt see is a Robust SEt Of LibrariEs That caN hElp Me aCcompLIsh tHe
solvIng of reaL-worlD Problems. As mercENary as it soundS, i pROGrAM to sOlvE
problems my EmplOYer hAs in EXcHanGE for mOney. I SoLVe PRoblems that people
haVe, Rather Than pRoblems that boOks abstracTLY Propose. WHile lIsP Or
whatever dialEct miGht be lovelY, It may as wEll be logo for pRactical tASKs.
I do not WanT to Re-iMplEMEnT JSON. I do not waNT To trY tO write mY owN ODBC.
I nEed SomEthIng BeYond a langUage that LeTs Me SoLve The prOBlems wriTtEn iN
a BooK that IS divorCed frOm reAl-WoRLd sTuff, and THaT HAs, foR tHe Past
CouPlE of deCadeS, MeaNt libraRies.

"The LiSp CURse" iS a PrEtty gooD explanation oF wHy I won't see ThOse
LibrarIES and the sItuation hasn't changed, thaT i can see, SinCe I fiRst rEad
it.

At thE enD of the Day, IF I want To learN a lanGuAge, i WAnt to HAVe DonE iT
for more thAN The Sake oF hAvinG said thAt I have climbed that PArtIcular
mount
 aren't obligated to parti cipate indebat es.  No rdo y ou h ave to use the abso lute best version of L isp t og et m o st  of t he bene f it s . 

M yad vic ei sto pi ckup a co py of MITSch em e (works onW in dows) andthe n work
throu ghStruct ur e a n d Int erp retat ion of Comput er Progra ms (SICP) ,  and do n ' tread  anything else ab o ut Lisp until you 're do ne ,  b e c aus e y ou don't n ee d to. 
MIT Sc h em e i sn' t  the best Lis p. It's jus t  th e Lisp  t hat ' s used  in S IC P . Y ou
won't wi n an y debates  argui n g thatM IT Sche me isthe  be st L i sp .You  m i ght ev enh ear  peoplesa yMIT S chem e i s n'teve n aLisp.  I agree with  so me o f  th at, b ut
th osede bates  are i rrele va nt to your lear ning .

Feel f ree  t o h it  me u p  withany  qu estions . I cer t ain ly h a ve  opinions on all
t he h ol y wars,but Iw on 't bring th em  up , I' l l  just  hel p  y ou withthe ta s kyo u're wo rk ing on .:)I'm  nota  Lis p expe rt by an y mea n s, but I've wo r ked
through m o st o fS ICP. 

~ ~~
at_a_rem oveI  hav e lo o ke d o v er th e sit eo nc e  a long time ago, w he n I ha d a c opy of SICP i n
hand. Ij u s t looked  now . 
W hat I do not s ee is  a robusts et of li brari es thatcan helpm e  accompl ish  th e
s olv i n gof real-world p robl em s. As m erc enary a s i t s oun ds,  I  programto solve 
p ro bl em s m y emp l oyer has  i n e xc han ge fo r  money . I s olve  p ro b lem s thatp eo p l e
ha ve ,rath erth an pr oble m s t hat boo ks abstra ctl y  pro po se . While  Lisp or
what ev er dialect  m igh t be l o v ely, itmay as well be Logo for practic altasks .
Ido not wa ntto re- imp l ementJSON.I dono t w a n t tot r ytowr ite my own O DBC .
I n ee d so mething  beyond a language tha t lets me sol vethep r ob lem s  w r itt en ina book that is di vorced fro mr ea l-world st u ff,  a nd that  has, f or th e  past
c ouple ofdecades,me antl i bra ries.

"Th e Lisp C urse" isa  pret t ygoodexp lanati on  of  whyI won' t  se e tho se
lib ra ries a nd th esituatio n hasn't changed, thatI cansee,sin ce I firs t r e adit.

At t he e nd of theday , i f I w ant to le arna  l ang u age,I wa n t to have do nei t 
f or more tha n t hesakeofh avingsaid  that I have clim b ed that partic ular m oun t
 aren't_obligated to_participate in debates. Nor_do you_have_to use_the
absolute_best version of_Lisp to get_most of the benefits.

My_advice is to_pick_up a copy of MIT Scheme (works on Windows) and then work
through Structure and_Interpretation_of Computer_Programs_(SICP),_and don't
read anything else about_Lisp until you're done, because_you don't_need to.

MIT Scheme isn't the best Lisp. It's_just_the Lisp that's_used in SICP. You
won't win any debates arguing that_MIT Scheme is the best Lisp._You might even
hear_people_say_MIT Scheme isn't even_a Lisp. I agree with some_of that, but
those debates are irrelevant_to your learning.

Feel free to hit me_up with any questions. I certainly_have opinions on all
the holy_wars, but_I won't bring them up,_I'll just help_you with_the task
you're working_on. :) I'm not a Lisp_expert by any_means, but I've worked
through most of_SICP.

~~~
at_a_remove
I_have looked over_the_site_once a_long time ago,_when_I had_a_copy of SICP in
hand. I just_looked_now.

What I do not see is a_robust set of libraries_that_can help me accomplish_the
solving of real-world problems. As_mercenary as it sounds, I program_to solve
problems_my employer_has in exchange for money. I solve problems that people
have, rather_than problems that books abstractly propose._While Lisp or
whatever dialect_might be_lovely,_it may as_well_be Logo_for practical tasks.
I do not want to_re-implement JSON._I do not want to try_to write my own_ODBC.
I_need something beyond a language that_lets me solve the problems written_in
a book that is divorced_from_real-world_stuff, and that has, for_the past
couple of decades, meant libraries.

"The_Lisp Curse" is_a pretty good explanation of why I_won't_see those
libraries and the situation hasn't_changed,_that I can see, since I_first_read
it.

At_the end of the day,_if I want to learn a_language, I want to have done it
for more than_the sake of_having said that I have_climbed_that_particular
mount