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Why is Python popular, while Lisp and Scheme aren't?

Erik Max Francis max at alcyone.com
Wed Nov 13 18:34:05 EST 2002 
Paul Foley wrote:

> I know.  But, as I said, Scheme and Lisp are very different languages.
> I.e., Scheme is /not/ a good introduction to Lisp (and vice versa),
> any more than, say, INTERCAL is a good introduction to Java :-)

Again, that's why I said "Lisp-like languages," not Lisp.  After all, if
I were so inclined, I could turn the nitpicking apparatus back onto you:
Which variety of Lisp do you mean when you say Lisp?  There are a great
number that are not only "Lisp-like" but actually have the word _Lisp_
in their names.

> [What do you mean by "Lisp-like language" anyway?  Python seems pretty
> Lisp-like to me...]

Languages that look and act like Lisp.  One might argue that Logo
qualifies (as a once-removed cousin), but I don't see how you can really
argue that Python looks and acts like Lisp.  If Python is Lisp-like then
what isn't?

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