LISt Processing (Lisp) has always been associated with applications of artificial intelligence which had their heyday in the nineteen eighties. It is a general purpose language too, and like, Forth, is able to extend the language during application development.
Like Forth, Lisp adopts a fundamentally interative approach to software development. This allows the developer to test each line of source code at edit time without a lengthy wait for compilation to take place, and encourages both a bottom-up programming style, and an adaptive/explorative approach to code writing. This can be a rewarding programing experience and may result in higher quality software as a consequence.
Meadowlark have used Lisp for simple database systems, and prototyping applications
Advantages of Lisp:
1. Smaller faster, cheaper, lighter computers for the desktop. They will be no larger than a DVD drive. They will be silent, and run free software, and much of this will be web based. They will use solid state disks, and large quantities of cheap memory.
2. More powerful mobile phones will largely replace traditional PCs. The screens of mobiles will occupy as much of the phone as physicallly possible. "Soft buttons will have largely replaced mechanical buttons in top of the range phones.3. Sophisticated screen display technology will be available that will allow us to use bigger computer monitors in smaller less likely workplaces.
4. Micro-factories: places of work no bigger than a loft
extension, where budding entrepreneurs labour in their free time
"printing" products with 3D printers and selling their wares
by the internet.