Lisp

I'm new to programming, and I've been learning Python and Fortran, the latter because it's part of my mathematics degree. I want to learn Lisp because it supposedly makes you a better programmer. Which dialect should I learn?

>>1
scheme

>>2

I second this, but only because of the "mathematics degree" part.

For mathematical tinkering: Scheme.

For actual programming, Common Lisp.

>>1
Mostly what >>3 said. Just read SICP (and R5RS) to learn Scheme and some important programming ideas/concepts/paradigms.
Learn CL if you want something more 'practical'/"real-world"-programming-oriented (in the sense that CL is made to allow a wide variety of paradigms and styles, as opposed to Scheme which tries to be much cleaner).

>>3
>>4
Oh, I was planning on learning sage for mathematical stuff, and maybe R too. I'm just learning Lisp for the education of it rather than to use it for anything. I'm probably going to learn C at some point as well for the same reason.

Scheme, simply because Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs is such a mind-blowing text. SICP introduces computer science as a new way to formally and concretely express and prove imperative knowledge of "how to do something", complimentary to mathematics which provides the language to formally and concretely express and prove declarative knowledge of "what is true". Scheme, whether because or despite its simplicity, turns out to be an extremely powerful language for expressing these ideas. By the time you learn how easy it is to take partial derivatives of polynomials in Scheme using its native syntax, you start to get the idea that it's superior to even mathematical notation, which is the basis of Structure and Interpretation of Classical Mechanics, an advanced mechanics book taught in Scheme.

That's not to say Scheme is the perfect programming language. Modern programming requires a larger set of native data types than Scheme provides, and functional programming in general isn't suited to very large programs. But if you're picking up Lisp to become a better programmer, SICP will do the trick, and that just happens to be taught in Scheme.

>>1

If you want to be, just, a better programmer and learn how a computer works, go with Common Lisp. If you want to learn about the theory of computer science, then you really ought to read SICP. Or, just, watch the lectures. But eventually, learn both.

>>6
And what do you do for a living again? Exactly. Now shut your pie hole you nowhere bitch.

>>8
What an queer!

Somebody is feeling inept among programmers.

I'm not pointing fingers, but I mean you >>8

Now go back and bash on your keyboard, code monkey.

>>10
Oh shut up and go scrub another toilet you fucking damn idiot. Again, you're stupid. And again, you don't have what it takes to be a computer programmer. Now go run along and write some more toy code you dumb bitch.

>>9
In the english language, the word 'an' is normally used when proceeding a word that begins with a vowel. Man, I swear, not only do you suck as a programmer, but your english also sucks. Geeze, now go fuck off and keep holding on to your vain dream that some major firm will hire you as a computer programmer.

>>11
Wow, you really told me off.

>>13
The point is, you are too fucking stupid to ever become a computer programmer. Maybe you should just stop coming here, get some help with your grammar, and then reconsider career paths.

>>12
The “an”　is intentional, you silly queer! Jeez, you don't even know who milkribs is. You horrible programmer.

>>14
You're not replying to the same person, you know? What an queer! Go back to reddit, please!

>>15
It doesn't matter. Neither one of you come off as being that particularly bright.

>>16
Well, neither do you. Now please go.

And stop bumping the thread with your trite!

>>17
At least I have the brain capacity to write computer code for a living. That is more than what I can say for you. Now go run along and study SICP you mental midget you.

>>18
Does that mean you'll go? Yay!

>>17
>>18
You're both stupid faggots. Go suck each other's cocks.

>>18
Also, that's not much of an achievement. Enjoy your cubicle.

>>20
Get ready to serve your shift at Burger King you dumb bitch.

>>22
Unoriginal. Boring. Not funny.

You:
[ ] Not mad
[x] Mad

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>>14
Okay, I'm sorry. I think we got off on the wrong foot.

Your disdain of what >>6 said and your childish tone made you sound like a certain kind of simple minded programmer. You know the type. It's the one that thinks of programs within the boundaries of the programming language and doesn't see patterns beyond syntax. The one who dismisses computing science because searching and sorting is provided for by the standard library. She is afraid of and badmouths math and other theory, because she doesn't immediately understand it, which makes her feel stupid. Since she knows she's brilliant, it must be the theory that's bullshit. And instead of giving any effort in learning hard things, this kind of programmer will yell out at any attempt of a sophisticated discussion.

But this of course isn't you. I was too quick to judge your potential.

Instead, let me say: It's okay to be gay! Turing was.

And I share your sentiment that >>9 should take an english course.

hey can any of you gents help me out quickly

need to make a tic tac toe board, but can't get the shit to actually print, using print leaves " " around each square format leaves out the |'s

i'm out of ideas

print "
  |  |
--+--+--
  |  |
--+--+--
  |  |
";

expert brogrammer here

>>27
yeah but I also need to be able to access each "spot in the sections to change between blank X and O

>>28
Locate 1,1
Print "X"

>>29
I understand what you are saying

save the thing in a string

use aref to change the slot that's chosen in the string and just print the shit out

thank you captain

>>28
>>27 is a dumb hourly worker who doesn't have the mental capacity to write code. Seriously. All >>27 seems to know how to do is make uneducated comments and argue with people who are far far smarter than it.

I know, it's such a same. >>27 is the reason why women should have a late term abortion.

>>30
And notice how <<27 still hasn't produced a solution. Yup. Someone is kind of slow.

>>32
Yup. We're still waiting for >>27 to produce some code. Oh wait, it ain't gonna happen because all this idiot knows how to do is argue with people who are smarter than it!

>>33
Yup. We are still waiting for >>27 to produce some code.

>>32-34
Didn't >>27 post some code? I mean, the post is all code.

>>35
I guess.

>>8
Somebody hasn't read their SICP today.

>>37
every mentioned in the post that >>8-san was belittling can be done in other languages, perhaps even done better. If you want to take derivatives of things, then you just need a data structure to represent your algebraic expressions, and a recursive decent derivative function that will traverse it. In an object oriented language, you could create a product object, a sum object, or what have you. The advantage of using scheme is that the data structure could look exactly like scheme expressions, which is nice. You get to type things like


(derivative 'x '(+ (* x y) (/ x y)))

instead of


Variable x = new Variable("x");
Variable y = new Variable("y");
new Sum(new Product(x, y), new Rational(x, y)).derivative(x);

lisp is fucking shit

Mathematics degree? Learn D