Books › On LISP
On LISP
413 pages
An analytical deep dive into building problem-specific languages through bottom-up programming.
What it feels like
This steady, highly technical guide immerses the reader in the intellectual satisfaction of bottom-up programming. The atmosphere is intensely focused and analytical, guiding programmers through the methodical process of building problem-specific languages on top of existing constructs. Rather than a traditional narrative, the emotional arc is one of expanding comprehension, moving from foundational concepts to the complete mastery of macros. The prose is clear and instructional, designed to unpack complex computer science paradigms without unnecessary flourish. It is a deeply pragmatic experience, tailor-made for computer scientists and developers who delight in the architecture of code and want to fundamentally change how they approach problem-solving within their programming environments.
- Mood
- intellectual
- focused
- pragmatic
- Tone
- instructive
- analytical
- technical
- methodical
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- bottom-up programming · problem-solving · language design · abstraction
- The writing
- Clear, descriptive, and highly technical, focused on explaining complex programming paradigms.
- The arc
- A journey from understanding basic constructs to mastering complex, problem-specific language building.
- Who it's for
- Programmers and computer scientists eager to master Common Lisp macros and bottom-up programming techniques.
About the book
The title itself, "On Lisp", is a reference to the idea that you can solve a programming problem by first building a programming language that lets you talk about your programming problem easier. In Lisp the programmer builds this problem specific language on top of Lisp itself using basic Lisp constructs called "macros". This style of programming is called "bottom-up programming".
On Lisp is especially known for the complete description of Common Lisp macros and their uses, but the book also covers many other aspects of bottom-up programming in Common Lisp.
Description from Open Library.
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