We'll be using Allegro Common Lisp (ACL) version 8.1 in this
class. ACL was created by Franz
Inc.. Here, at Vassar's Computer Science Department, ACL is
available on all of the Linux boxes in the classroom and labs. To fire up
emacs and get a Lisp session started within it, do the following:
- Log in to your account on one of the Linux boxes in the classroom
or lab.
- Copy the sample .emacs file
into your home directory. Make sure it is named
.emacs or it won't have any effect.
- Start up an emacs session by typing:
aclemacs&
- Start up a Lisp session within emacs by typing: M-x fi:common-lisp followed by
hitting the "Enter" key six or seven times (which accepts a bunch of
defaults). (Note: M-x
means "Hit the Esc key, release it, and then
hit the x key.")
- Type something such as (+ 1 2 3)
followed by the "Enter" key to evaluate your first Lisp expression.
(Note the similarity to Scheme expressions!)
- Type (exit) to
end the Lisp session.
- Type C-x C-c to exit
the emacs program. (Note: C-x
means "hold down the Ctrl key while
hitting the x key.")
For a quick summary of the Common Lisp language, see Chapter 3 of David
Cooper's book, Basic Lisp Techniques .