Maxima semantics is more flexible than an ordinary programming language
because of the presence of symbols which can be moved around and evaluated
at different times. Nevertheless, it is mostly accurate to call the
top-level language as implemented, dynamically scoped.
Common Lisp is easily powerful enough to implement programming languages
with different kinds of scopes, and in particular implementing the semantics
of Maxima with dynamic scope is not difficult.
It is true that Macsyma was first implemented in Maclisp which had different
scoping rules from Common Lisp, and that Maclisp influenced the Macsyma
design.
RJF
> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Jan Brosius
> Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:53 PM
> To: maxima at math.utexas.edu
> Subject: Dynamically scoped?
>
> Hello,
>
> I am learning Maxima. I have a problem. In the maxima
> reference manual
> Maxima is said to be dynamically scoped. Maxima is made in
> Common Lisp.
> According to Paul Graham Common Lisp is lexically scoped.
> Isn't this a
> contradiction.
>
>
> Thanks for any clarification
> Jan
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