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You sweet, summer child, just so you know, I have existed for nearly half a century in this world where the larger part of it I have spent dealing in computing. I have seen and dealt with more programming languages (including Ruby) than you can count with your fingers and toes and that number keeps growing still. I'm not advocating for any particular language, runtime, framework or paradigm - do use whatever your heart desires.

I'm simply pointing out that there is a meaningful difference in REPLs in homoiconic and non-homoiconic PLs. You don't have to listen to me, this is easily verifiable information. Google it, ask LLMs, try it yourself, or ignore the notion entirely - it's completely up to you. But let's not get too intimate and slide into insulting one another - you have no idea who I am and what cults I'm specifically fond of.

2 comments

Apparently you're not experienced enough to have used a Lisp that doesn't have a REPL, nor a non-Lisp that does have a good one.

You obviously haven't implemented a Lisp either, because then you'd understand what homoiconicity actually gives you. And also how a REPL is implemented (since you wouldn't just get one for free, it's a tool to implement).

You're wrong on every count about my experience. And once again, please: I'm just saying that stages in Read-Eval-Print-Loop does have differences in homoiconic and non-homoiconic languages. THAT'S ALL I SAID. There's zero controversial taste in that statement. None. I'm not bashing on Ruby, or Python, or any language you favor. I'm not telling you to use this or that. I'm just pointing out at specific differences that exist.

So if you implement a non-homoiconic language in SBCL or Racket does the REPL blow up? Is Rhombus language a psy-op?

Implementing C-like language in Lisp runtime - your interpreter reads C-like source, parses it to your own AST structs, and evaluates those. The host being homoiconic says nothing about the guest. You would have to write a guest REPL anyway (if you want one).

Rhombus built on Racket, yes, means it reuses Racket's machinery: the macro expander, the module system, the compiler, the runtime. But it doesn't mean it inherits Racket's parenthesized syntax.

Racket's expander does not operate on text. It operates on syntax objects (shrubbery). It has its own REPL, because the Read stage has to parse shrubbery syntax, not s-expressions. So, my original point stands - REPLs do have differences for homo and and non-homoiconic PLs.

So close yet so far lol...

Please be less of an asshole.

You’re an asshole too for talking like that.

I am not an asshole for pointing it out though, I’m likable.

iLemming: creating a new user just to say that seems a bit over the top.

I don't know who that is. I don't play stupid social games to win stupid social prizes. Why would I create a new account and yet keep replying with another one? I have single accounts pretty much everywhere, except Reddit - they shadowbanned my first one when I posted while connected to a VPN (apparently that's not allowed). You can easily use some OSINT tools to confirm that.

Again though: please don't be an asshole. You're doing a disservice to Lisp.

Da fuk you're talking about? Where the heck am I being an asshole? I have not used a foul language or insult in this thread once, even when someone accused me of being in a cult. Don't patronize me, even if you bought a moral authority on a discount - I'm not your fucking child. No matter how many times you say "please" and call me "asshole" I won't correct anything in my behavior because there's nothing to correct to begin with. What "disservice"? a) I could't care less about Lisp's popularity b) You seriously think someone, anyone would be like "don't look at Lisp... because there's one jerk in this specific HN thread. He said something in 2026. Eight levels nested down..."

High testo, huh.

I would, but apparently I'm in a cult. Truth be told - I'm in multiple ones. Still trying to decide which one is my favorite.