[Axiom-developer] Lisp

[daly]

I guess the fundamental point is this: 

  Using s-expression syntax allows the full use of lisp.

Lisp, unlike any other programming language, allows you to use
the interpreter, the compiler, and macros anywhere and everywhere.
At any time that you need them you can use them and "it just works".
In addition, the end user of your program also has them available
(if you do it "in the lisp spirit").

As soon as you move away from the s-expression syntax you lose it all.
You have to write "strings" that "have meaning", given by a parser,
compiler, translator, etc. Lisp loses the special property of
"turtles all the way down". It becomes just another programming
language.

Boot turns lisp into "just another language".

Tim