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====== TWENEX MACLISP Tutorial ======

**Lisp** is a programming language famous for its use in Artificial Intelligence and advanced Computer Science research. First developed in 1958, it is the second oldest (after Fortran) high-level programming language still in common use.

Two dialects of Lisp are available at TWENEX.ORG, Maclisp and [[interlisp|InterLisp-10]].


===== Maclisp =====

(''@MACLISP'')

**Maclisp** was developed in the mid-1960's as part of MIT's Project MAC((for **M**athematics **A**nd **C**omputation. The name is unrelated to the later-developed Apple Macintosh computer)), originally for the PDP-6 ITS operating system.

Maclisp was a highly influential language and was the primary inspiration for Common Lisp, with contributions form other dialects like InterLisp.

=== Set-up ===

Before running MACLISP, you must define the following logical name:

''@DEFINE MACLISP: PS:<MACLISP>''

(You can add the above line to your LOGIN.CMD file to automatically define the logical name for all of you TWENEX sessions.)

It is also recommended that you create a Maclisp init file (''LISP.INI'') in your home directory with the following contents:

  ;;; A very typical init file / Emacs mode--> -*- Mode:LISP; -*-
  (COMMENT) ;magic
  (PROGN ; real init file stuff
    (SETQ BASE 10. IBASE 10. *NOPRINT NIL) ;base-10 display
    (SETQ NOUUO T *RSET T) ;these make debugging easier
    (SSTATUS FEATURE NOLDMSG) ;supress module load messages
    '*) ;return an asterisk for Maclisp to print out
 
=== LEDIT ===

''LEDIT'' is a software package that allows a programmer to inspect, modify, and save Lisp source expressions from within a Maclisp session, abilities Maclisp itself lacks. This is achieved  by calling the Emacs editor from the programmer's Maclisp session.

To use LEDIT:

  - Start Maclisp and load your source file.
  - Evaluate ''(LOAD "LISP:LEDIT.FASL")'' (You may add this line to your LISP.INI file and eliminate this step.)
  - Evaluate ''(LEDIT)'' to switch to Emacs.
  - Load the source file into Emacs (''^X ^F'').
  - View, change, save source with Emacs commands.
  - Flag function definitions to update in Maclisp with ''M-Z''.
  - Return to Maclisp with ''^X Z''. 


===== References =====

[[http://www.maclisp.info/pitmanual/index.html|K.M. Pitman. (2007, December 16). The Revised Maclisp Manual [Online]. Available: http://www.maclisp.info/pitmanual]]
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