Info for a potential LISP user...

After lurking around here for a few months I'm intrigued with learning AutoLISP. I currently use AutoCAD LT 2007, but am thinking about the future and possibly working for a company that has full AutoCAD.

I'd like to work on some AutoLISP programs but since LT has no capability of using AutoLISP I'm sort of stuck. Is there some product (3rd party) that allows you to compile (if that's the right word) a program to see if it actually functions as you want.

I've heard of LT Extender.... is that my only option?

You really need to get a copy of full AutoCAD to insure all functions work correctly.

There are some 3rd party programs that allow you to use basic lisp functions but beware that AutoCAD is suing these companies and there is no telling if they will be around to renew any license you purchase.

Also the full AutoCAD has a lisp environment with a ton of help. But you can either purchase a 3rd party lips environment or just program in notepad.

You don’t have to compile a lisp program but AutoCAD lisp has a function to compile multiple lisp and DCL files into a VLX file that makes it easer to load 1 file instead of many if your project is large or you want to keep people from editing your code.

If it's AutoLISP you're looking for, you pretty much need AutoCAD, otherwise you probably won't know if what you're doing is correct. AutoLISP is a specific version of LISP tailored to meet AutoCAD specifications, and as such, it has a lot of very specific commands.

If AutoCAD is too much for you at the moment, there are other LISP environments you can get, but many of them are fiendishly confusing to navigate. It seems like there just hasn't been the same sort of development for LISP as there has for, say, C++. However, you can do a search for CLISP or EMACS if you're interested. Keep in mind that these are actual LISP interpreters; LISP and AutoLISP, whilst one is based on the other, are still different things. Coding in LISP will just give you a really good head start for coding in AutoLISP, when you get around to it.

You really need to get a copy of full AutoCAD to insure all functions work correctly.

There are some 3rd party programs that allow you to use basic lisp functions but beware that AutoCAD is suing these companies and there is no telling if they will be around to renew any license you purchase.

JohnM-

Thanks for the reply. Full AutoCAD isn't a possibility for me now. Yeah, I don't think I'd want to take a chance with the 3rd party software. If they "disappear", then I'm out of luck.

You could download a free 30-day trial of Bricscad, it has lisp & vlisp functionality.

Beyond 30 days, you'll have to change your comptuter's date to start it up, so I've heard...

You could download a free 30-day trial of Bricscad, it has lisp & vlisp functionality.

 

Beyond 30 days, you'll have to change your comptuter's date to start it up, so I've heard...

or you could do the right thing and buy it !!

However, you can do a search for CLISP or EMACS if you're interested. Keep in mind that these are actual LISP interpreters; LISP and AutoLISP, whilst one is based on the other, are still different things. Coding in LISP will just give you a really good head start for coding in AutoLISP, when you get around to it.

Thanks much for your advice. I started by checking out both CLISP and EMACS. From reading other peoples opinions on those it sounded as if EMACS would be difficult for someone just starting out. Some people had high opinions of Eclipse/Cusp and Lispworks. I decided on Lispworks.... and so far I'm happy I did. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks again.

The problem I've found when exploring LISP options is that there is almost no way to create stand-alone programs (some LISP compilers can translate LISP to C automatically, and compile that) and that there is almost no way to create GUI's (some people manage it, but everything is at a very basic level). This, unfortunately, means that LISP is pretty much limited to data processing, unlike in AutoCAD where you can use it to manipulate your physical environment. If you ever do find a way using Lispworks or anything else to create stand-alone binaries (.exe files) or create anything resembling even so much as a GUI tic-tac-toe game, let me know. I've looked many times and repeatedly came up with nothing.

and that there is almost no way to create GUI's

DCL?

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DCL?

 

 

.....

What about it, aside from five dots?

What about it, aside from five dots?

(Five dots = 10 character min)

You said "and that there is almost no way to create GUI's", so what about using DCL?

(Five dots = 10 character min)

 

You said "and that there is almost no way to create GUI's", so what about using DCL?

Using DCL with LISP? I wouldn't know how, or even where to begin learning.

Using DCL with LISP? I wouldn't know how, or even where to begin learning.

AfraLISP/JeffreySanders sites have whole sections on it , or you could opt for the more powerful OpenDCL Or just look at the code used in most of the programs in my sig

AfraLISP/JeffreySanders sites have whole sections on it , or you could opt for the more powerful OpenDCL Or just look at the code used in most of the programs in my sig

Oh.. haha.. no, not AutoLISP.. I'm talking about generic LISP, something like Common LISP. AutoCAD makes combining graphics and LISP far too easy. Once you remove AutoCAD from the equation, things become increasingly difficult.

The ultimate goal is to send someone a program that I wrote using LISP and having them be able to run it without having to obtain and learn AutoCAD or some confusticated 20-year-old keyboard-only-driven LISP interpreter (I'm looking at you, SLIME).

I'll say this, though: I'm almost frustrated to the point where I'd learn C++ for the sole purpose of writing a LISP compiler similar in function to BlitzMax. However, I've tried C++ before, and I'm not quite frustrated enough to try that beast again. ^^"

If I could even find a way to use C for graphics only and LISP for data processing, I'd be happy.. but I barely know the first thing about programming, and when I think about combining two languages, I fizzle out like a tv set in a lightning storm.