Re: I am a new lisp user
From: Cameron MacKinnon (cmackin+nn_at_clearspot.net)
Date: 01/13/05
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Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 15:39:32 -0500
Jock Cooper wrote:
> Kenny Tilton <ktilton@nyc.rr.com> writes:
>
>>Use the AllegroCL Trial version. By the time you know enough to exceed
>>its limits you will realize it is worth the price.
>
>
> Worth the price for commercial use (I have a copy) but pretty much out
> of reach for the home/hobbyist who wants to write shareware or
> freeware utilities or games for fun.
Not out of reach: As Kenny said, many people spend plenty of money on
their other hobbies. How much does your average hobbyist game developer
spend on a graphics card? But software's perceived value is low -- many
people who have no problem spending $800 on a digital camera whose
marginal cost of production is under $100 won't pay comparably for software.
> Remember that recent thread-from-hell about CL, C++, and games, and if
> Lisp is so good, why aren't there any games written in it? It's
> partly because Joe Programmer can't afford get a copy to play with at home
> *that allows him to write and sell or give away anything*.
I agree that this is probably true.
> If you could get ACL or LW for an amount that is reasonable to a
> casual hobbyist, with rights to sell your apps, I say stuff written in
> Lisp would start popping up all over the place.
Maybe. But what would happen to the vendors? The last company I can
think of to make a go of low margin development tools was Borland. Lots
of developers loved their $99 Pascal and Delphi packages. Where's
Borland now? (OK, I just checked: Looks like they're in business, but
lost $40MM in 2003) Microsoft gives away tools, Sun gives away tools,
even IBM, I think, and not out of altruism.
Can you point to some successful developer tools companies with low
margin business models? If not, I think your business advice is
tantamount to counseling suicide.
I agree that better tools for cheap would provide a short term bounce
for Lisp. But how would that play out long term?
If you want cheap tools for Windows, I think the most effective way
would be to find developers to help port CMUCL.
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