status of gamalg



Mathematica doesn't compile its code to Lisp.
There is a mode of output called FullForm
which reveals the structure of Mathematica code
in a format that looks almost like lisp, but the
semantics attached to the names are not lisp semantics.

e.g. FullForm[a+b]  is  Plus[a,b].
In lisp that would be (plus a b).

In Maxima that would be  ((mplus) $a $b)  or something similar.

However the model of evaluation in Mathematica is
rule-based and pattern driven, not like lisp or maxima.

Sometimes these are indistinguishable in practice, but not
always.

RJF


Camm Maguire wrote:
<snip>

>  I don't
>suppose that mathematica happens to compile its code to lisp at an
>intermediary stage which can then be inspected by the user?
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