Lisp has all the visual appeal of oatmeal with fingernail clippings mixed in.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote disparages Lisp by comparing its visual appeal to oatmeal with nail clippings, implying it’s unappetizing.
- In plain terms
- Lisp looks as unappealing as oatmeal with nail clippings.
- What can you take from it?
- Don’t judge a language solely by its appearance; assess its capabilities.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much does visual appeal affect your choice of language?
- What functional benefits can outweigh bad aesthetics?
Another view
Some may find Lisp’s syntax elegant and powerful.
More from Larry Wall
Anyway, there's plenty of room for doubt. It might seem easy enough, but computer language design is just like a stroll in the park. Jurassic Park, that is.
Permalink to quote #61 I don't like your I-can-use-anything-as-an-adjective attitude.
Permalink to quote #63 Well, enough clowning around. Perl is, in intent, a cleaned up and summarized version of that wonderful semi-natural language known as 'Unix'.
Permalink to quote #60
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