Lisp as scripting language (vs. python or perl orl)

For most implementations it is, as you say, trivial to use an external
library from Lisp.
Lisp is often viewed as competition in the scripting business to python and
perl and even C#. Being a language that is both interactive and generally
compiled, it has advantages over any of them.

But common lisp does not have a standard for this kind of linking. An
attempt to cover all the details has been attempted at least twice (UFFI,
CFFI) but GCL has apparently not been included, if I understand the
situation. Since GCL is used by xmaxima, any solution that does not include
GCL is disqualified. The developers or users of common lisp HAVE made many
common solutions available to various tasks, including open-source code for
RDNZL, ASDF, Allegro-serve, CFFI... I think your complaint should be
directed to the maintainers of GCL. (The f2cl solution works only for
fortran open-source code, and even there has some limitations.)


RJF

> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu 
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Michel 
> Van den Bergh
> Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 11:40 AM
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: Re: [Maxima] Maxima Digest, Vol 5, Issue 59
> 
> 
> >> That would make Maxima an even bigger mess.
> >> We have a pretty good way to get Fortran code running, namely f2cl.
> >> I don't see why we would want to retreat to platform and 
> Lisp specific
> >> solutions, given that we have a pretty good chance of 
> getting stuff to
> >> work on multiple platform/Lisp combinations.
> >>
> >> I think you've seriously understated the work involved in getting
> >> some library linked into Maxima (be it Lisp, .so, .dll, whatever).
> >> It is certainly not something we can expect typical users 
> to carry out.
> >> It is a significant effort even for the Maxima developers.
> >>     
> This is sad. In modern scripting languages (like python or 
> perl) it is a
> trivial to use
> an external library, just run the headers through SWIG and 
> you are done.
> An usually one can even call functions in an external library directly
> (although this is less safe).
> 
> I think the developers of the various lisp compilers should get their
> act together.
> 
> Michel
> 
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