On 1/5/2011 10:30 AM, Grant Edwards wrote:
1) How often is a compiler for language X written?
2) How often is source code written in language X?
3) How often is that source code in language X read/modified?
If you compare those numbers you'll realize that optimizing for case 1
at the expense of cases 2& 3 is just plain stupid.
Today? Sure.
But let's remember the context. LISP was created in 1958 at a time when
the only other high level language (if the Wikipedia is right) was
Fortran. Writing a practical interpreter or compiler to run on a 16 or
32 K word memory machine, using punched cards and maybe mag tape, and
probably starting in assembly language, was a pretty daunting task. It
required gobs of intelligence and not a little fortitude.
So instead of calling it "plain stupid" I'd be more comfortable saying
that it is "no longer the best design choice for modern computers."
Alan
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