[Haskell-cafe] The Lisp Curse

[Ketil Malde]

Andrew Coppin <andrewcoppin at btinternet.com> writes:

> I'm trying to voice the opinion that there is such a thing as too many
> libraries. The article I linked to explains part of why this is the
> case, in a better way than I've been able to phrase it myself.

I don't think so, the article seems to talk more about social problems
among lisp users, which it - at least in part - ascribes to the technical
prowess of the language.

I don't think the article makes its point very well, though. For
instance, it uses object orientation as an example, but CLOS is fairly
standard in Lisp, I believe, and the author had to turn to Scheme for
his examples.  The problem again seems to be more social (the lack of an
active committee to do standardizing) than technical.

> The opinion that having too many libraries can be
> a problem, which some people don't seem to agree with.

I don't see how the number of available libraries is a problem in
itself, but it would be nice if hackage or some other resource provided
more help in recommending which library to try first.  We do have
standardization efforts, committees bringing the language forward and an
inclusive and collaborative community.

-k
-- 
If I haven't seen further, it is by standing in the footprints of giants