Description #
Lisp (short for LISt Processing) is one of the oldest high-level programming languages still in use today. Known for its unique parenthetical syntax and powerful macro system, Lisp introduced many foundational concepts in functional programming and symbolic computation.
History #
Lisp was invented in 1958 by John McCarthy at MIT. It was the second high-level programming language ever developed, after Fortran. Lisp pioneered concepts such as recursion, automatic memory management (garbage collection), and homoiconicity (code-as-data). Many modern functional languages—including Scheme, Clojure, and Racket—descend from Lisp.
Hello World Code #
(print "Hello, World!")(This works in Common Lisp and most Lisp dialects.)
How to Run #
Option 1: Online
Option 2: Local
- Install a Lisp interpreter (e.g., SBCL, CLISP)
sudo apt install sbclSave as hello.lisp and run:
sbcl --script hello.lispKey Concepts #
- Code as data (homoiconicity)
- Extensive use of recursion
- Symbolic processing
- Macro system for metaprogramming
- Garbage collection
- Functional-first with support for imperative style
- REPL-driven development
- Minimal syntax (prefix notation)
- Lists as fundamental data structures
- Rich ecosystem of dialects (Common Lisp, Scheme, etc.)
Try It Online #
Fun Facts #
- Emacs is written in a dialect of Lisp called Emacs Lisp.
- The entire Lisp syntax is built around nested parentheses.
- AI research in the 1970s and 1980s heavily relied on Lisp.
