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

[Kenny Tilton]

maney at pobox.com wrote:
> Kenny Tilton <ktilton at nyc.rr.com> wrote:
> 
>>I am close! I have asked twice here what folks use to do Python, and I 
>>have yet to get one solitary answer. That is /really/ strange. Anyway, 
>>what IDE /do/ you use?
> 
> 
> None.  I use any of several different editors (none of which are emacs
> or vi, for I am agnostic: I dislike both of them).  Well, unless you
> consider the set of xterm, browser, etc. windows I have open as a
> home-grown, constantly changing to suit the shifting requirements, IDE. 
> Aside from abusing "integrated", it's fairly applicable.  :-)

sure, that's a fine environment. 'make' is in there, too, yes?

but in the two Lisp IDE's I use, when developing if I kersplat into a 
backtrace I get a window showing me the stack. I can double-click an 
instance and hop into an inspector. Or I can double-click on a frame and 
it takes me to the definition in my source. I can use another key combo 
to bounce to other definitions, then edit code for an hour and hit 
another key combo to recompile all changed source. then I can return to 
the backtrace window and tell Lisp to continue where it left off.

if i get really confused i call up Apropos, which searches known 
defintions by substring of name. In ACL i can tell it if I want just 
functions or classes, and which namespaces to search. when i find a 
likely candidate I hit F1 and am transported to the Common Lisp 
hyperspec entry for that function.

i don't use the built-in class browser much, but that's just me. more 
often i use the keychord which finds a definition, then i just bounce 
from class to superclass to superclass till i learn what i want.

Life is good. :)

-- 

  kenny tilton
  clinisys, inc
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
""Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty-five years, Doctor,
   and I'm happy to state I finally won out over it.""
                                                   Elwood P. Dowd