C interpreter in Lisp/scheme/python

[geremy condra]

On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 10:17 PM, bolega <gnuist006 at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 13, 11:18 pm, geremy condra <debat... at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 11:01 PM, bolega <gnuist... at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > On Jun 20, 9:31 pm, Richard Fateman <fate... at cs.berkeley.edu> wrote:
>> >> Define Macro wrote:
>> >> > On Jun 13, 7:07 pm, bolega <gnuist... at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> >> I am trying to compare LISP/Scheme/Python for their expressiveness.
>>
>> >> >> For this, I propose a vanilla C interpreter. I have seen a book which
>> >> >> writes C interpreter in C.
>>
>> >> >> The criteria would be the small size and high readability of the code.
>>
>> >> >> Are there already answers anywhere ?
>>
>> >> Sure.  Lots of texts on compilers provide exercises which, in one way or
>> >> another suggest how to write an interpreter and perhaps a compiler too
>> >> for some language.  Anyone taking a course on compilers is likely to
>> >> have followed such exercises in order to pass the course.  Some
>> >> instructors are enlightened enough to allow students to pick the
>> >> implementation language.
>>
>> >> Ask any such instructor.
>>
>> > Beware, he does not tell the readers the financial details. This is
>> > what he wrote to me by email.
>>
>> > <quote>
>> > I would be willing to meet with you here in Berkeley to educate you on
>> > these matters at a consulting rate of  $850 per hour, with a minimum
>> > of 8 hours.
>>
>> > RJF
>> > </quote>
>>
>> He's Berkeley's former CS chair and was implementing lisp before
>> common lisp was a twinkle in anybody's eye. His time is valuable.
>>
>> Geremy Condra
>
> This makes some sense. He replied on the newsgroup in a lengthy post
> that there are sufficient resources out there giving hint that no one
> need help me out.

No one does. Your problem is yours to solve.

> Then I was called "lazy" in one email and tersely
> given JUST the last name of an author who has many books each many
> 100s pages, when I asked for a relevant book, as if i am a scholar in
> the field, although he did spend lots of words on irrelevant and
> unbeneficial things which diminished my enthusiasm.

Yes, you've failed to take advantage of the resources which have been
made available to you, preferring to have other people solve your
problem. Sounds like a pretty good working definition of laziness.

> Now, I find out
> from you that he has/had a business concern or interest in a company
> that is writing/wrote lisp interpreter in C. Correct me if I am making
> an error.

You're making an error. Given that there are probably only a handful
of people on earth more qualified to teach you anything you'd want to
know about this I'd say he's made you an exceptional offer. Expect no
better help elsewhere.

Geremy Condra